Ghostly figures were everywhere, and yin corpses roamed all around. The world was flooded with soaring yin qi, devoid of any trace of the living, as if one had stepped straight into the realm of the dead.
Little Fatty was an Illusionist who had never set foot in a Night Walker dungeon. Having never witnessed such a harrowing sight, his calves seized in shameful spasms, and his lips trembled faintly.
An eerie, horrifying world, pale and chilling ghastly faces, and dense clusters of yin corpses lining the streets—any Level 4 Saint would be terrified in a wretched place like this.
Except for Fire Masters.
Had Dark Night Rose realized the authorities were fishing, and turned their own trap against them? *Yuanshi Tianzun set me up...* In the midst of his terror, Little Fatty also pieced together the crux of the matter.
To "devour" a single Saint like him, there was no need to mobilize such overwhelming forces.
Little Fatty grew even more pessimistic, convinced that both the Southern Faction and the authorities had been played for fools by Dark Night Rose.
"Woo... woo..."
A mournful, piercing flute melody drifted from among the towering high-rises, echoing through the night.
The wooden, expressionless ghost faces behind the windows and the dazed yin corpses along the streets suddenly snapped to life at the sound. The former phased through the glass, turning into a sweeping gale of yin wind that pounced forward.
The latter let out throaty rasps and surged forward like a horde of zombies, scrambling over one another.
Little Fatty's heart ran cold, dread flashing in his eyes. As an Illusionist, he stood no chance against so many vengeful spirits, let alone with yin corpses in the fray.
What was worse, these spirits and corpses were of remarkably high caliber—and an endless tide of them was still pouring out from the buildings on all sides.
They were simply beyond counting.
"It's over, it's over..." Despair consumed Little Fatty. "This damn place is scarier than an S-rank dungeon."
Right at that moment, a brilliant golden sun manifested in the heavens.
Pure, blinding radiance drove back the darkness. Under the sun's sweeping golden rays, the swirling spirits filling the sky and the dense yin corpses sizzled, sending up plumes of blue-gray smoke.
The weaker yin entities were instantly blasted into oblivion, their souls scattered.
As the sun blazed overhead, the temperature surged, and the thick fog of yin qi blanketing the world thinned noticeably.
*Reinforcements are here...* Startled and overjoyed, Little Fatty looked back. Far down at the end of the long street, a group of people was strolling into view.
Leading them was a young man clad in snow-white robes, draped in a black cloak patterned with golden clouds. With a dashing short ponytail, he looked aloof and remarkably handsome.
To his left walked a gentle, charming woman who retained all her mature allure; to his right stood a dark-skinned, middle-aged man in mountaineering gear.
Behind them came a contingent of Saints led by Yin Ji.
*Elder Gaofeng from the Hang City branch, Elder Hongying from Taiyi Sect, and Fu Qingyang is here too...* A tremendous wave of security washed over Little Fatty.
There were certain people who inspired terror when they were your enemies.
Yet when they became your teammates, they brought incomparable peace of mind.
Fu Qingyang was one of them.
As for the elders of the Southern Faction, though they were nowhere in sight, Illusionists were notoriously elusive—remaining unseen was the norm.
"Hmph!"
From deep among the towering skyscrapers came a cold, sinister snort.
The next instant, a jet-black streak surged into the sky, carrying an overwhelming deluge of yin qi as it slammed into the golden sun in the heavens.
Boom!
The two diametrically opposed powers collided and exploded simultaneously. Black streamers fell to the earth, congealing into frost.
Golden sparks of flowing fire showered down, blasting shallow craters into the pavement.
"A Day Wanderer who specializes in Taiyin." Elder Hongying's expression remained tranquil as she calmly surveyed the army of yin entities.
Only by specializing in Taiyin could one harness enough yin qi to contend with the divine power of the sun. Of course, this was also because Elder Hongying did not specialize in Taiyang herself.
And only one who walked the path of Taiyin could nourish so many vengeful spirits and yin corpses.
"It's the Grand Protector of Dark Night Rose. I crossed paths with him during the Holy Grail incident," Fu Qingyang said indifferently.
Once freed from the golden sun's suppression, the spirits and corpses swiftly recovered under the nourishment of the rich yin qi, hurtling wave upon wave toward Little Fatty, Fu Qingyang, and the others.
Suddenly, a piercing screech inaudible to ordinary mortals rippled through the air.
The spirits swirling across the sky detonated in unison, and the flute melody echoing between the towers was forcibly severed.
Mental Strike!
The Southern Faction elder had made their move.
***
Fujia Bay.
On the rooftop of the compact villa, the night was deep as Zhang Yuanqing leaned against the railing, gazing out into the distance.
The celestial stars spanned the firmament, dazzling and mysterious, distant and solitary.
Zhang Yuanqing stood on the rooftop with one hand behind his back and the other cradling the Great Luo Astrolabe. Brilliant starlight swirled within his pupils as he looked upward, reading the celestial signs.
In his vision, the stars symbolizing the shifts of earthly events moved at blinding speed, constellations turning and realigning.
*Dark Night Rose has made their move... Boss shouldn't run into any mishaps on this trip and should be able to finish off Sect Master Chunyang. No, wait. Divination and stargazing are useless whenever Dark Night Rose is involved. Good thing that trash Grand Marshal is in Songhai...*
As an exceptional chess player, he had to account for every shift across the board and manage every risk.
He also had to consider what would happen if Fu Qingyang and the others were completely wiped out by Dark Night Rose.
Admittedly, Fu Qingyang, Hongying, and Gaofeng, along with the Southern Faction elder, were all Dominators who combined wisdom, experience, and cunning; they were as dependable as could be.
Even so, Dark Night Rose's cloak of secrecy prevented them from using stargazing or divination to divine fortune and avoid disaster. Nor would they ever imagine that Marshal White Tiger, their ultimate anchor, would be lured away by the traitor Yuanshi Tianzun in league with Fear Heavenly King.
Nothing was guaranteed; there was always the danger of capsizing in an unassuming puddle.
Therefore, in Zhang Yuanqing's arrangement with Fear Heavenly King, the female Grand Marshal was to be delayed for two hours at most. That way, even if Fu Qingyang and his team ran into mortal danger, she could still reinforce them in time.
*If my only goal were to rescue Demonic Eye without giving a damn about Boss and the rest, setting the board would be infinitely simpler. But the moment multiple objectives enter the equation, variables and hazards multiply, and the chances of failure skyrocket...*
*When I plan operations around stargazing in the future, I must keep extraneous factors to an absolute minimum to ensure a higher success rate.*
*Mm, by now, Fear Heavenly King should have already struck.*
Everything remained under control.
The rescue of Demonic Eye was set for tonight. To prepare, he had intentionally given his lower half a rest. After all, once Guan Ya lay down and knelt before him, an entire hour would slip away before they knew it.
And with a Night Walker's boundless stamina, one lie-down and one kneel were hardly ever enough. Add in sitting and lying prone, and two or three hours would vanish in the blink of an eye.
The prime window to rescue Demonic Eye would slip right by, lost in one foray after another into Guan Ya.
With those thoughts running through his head, Zhang Yuanqing split off half his consciousness, sending it into the sea of consciousness to inhabit the yin corpse imprint belonging to "Hundred-Man Slayer."
***
Rouzong City, a hundred kilometers away.
On the rooftop of the city center mall, Hundred-Man Slayer took off his sunglasses. The wild madness in his eyes receded, replaced by clear, calculating rationality.
*A Dominator-level Wood Monster's escape techniques are mediocre, and their travel speed is fairly ordinary too. At Elder Dog's pace, it'll take him at least twenty minutes to get here...*
*Twenty minutes won't leave me enough time to rescue Demonic Eye, so I have to lead him along step by step instead of meeting him face-to-face right here...* Pondering this, Zhang Yuanqing looked down at his disguise ring.
He intended to use the yin corpse to impersonate his father.
Raising his hand, he covered his face with his palm.
As gentle, water-like ripples of light shimmered across his skin, his features swiftly shifted and set, transforming into those of a refined, gentle man in his early thirties.
Then, Zhang Yuanqing took out a mobile phone and dialed Elder Dog's number.
***
The Zoo, in a lush, secluded corner, inside a quiet single-story bungalow.
Under the bright glare of the overhead lights, within the spacious yet austere room, the white-haired female Grand Marshal reclined lazily against the back of her chair before the desk by the window. Her long legs, clad in black breeches, rested casually across the edge of the tabletop.
Not only was her hair thick and snow-white, but even her eyelashes were pure white.
Beneath those dense, curled eyelashes, which resembled a pair of delicate white brushes, sat light-green pupils. They were not the green eyes of a Westerner, but rather something resembling a magical mutation.
Her eyes were clear and bright, like the most exquisite gemstones in the world, with outer corners tilting slightly upward to lend her an imposing, spirited aura.
Her facial features were just as striking as her eyes, boasting thin lips, a high nose bridge, and long, straight brows. Her presence was neither gentle nor alluring nor ethereal, but possessed a suffocating majesty that commanded reverence.
Even so, with a chocolate ball tucked into her slightly puffed cheek and a volume of the *Doraemon* manga clutched in her hands, her majestic aura was severely compromised.
To make matters worse, the clutter of manga books, romance novels, and cheap milk tea strewn across the desk stripped away every shred of dignity befitting an Alliance Leader.
The female Grand Marshal rolled the chocolate ball around her mouth as she devoured the comic with relish, the tall boots propped on the desk swaying merrily.
She had been in Songhai for a while now. Her official story was that she was in secluded meditation to comprehend the way of the sword, after which she had never once stepped outside this humble bungalow.
Every day was spent reading novels, flipping through manga, sipping milk tea, and gorging on sweets.
She took to being a recluse with remarkable ease; after all, holing up inside a dungeon and holing up in the Zoo were practically identical.
Her untalented younger brother had visited her several times, nagging her incessantly: "Your sword qi is far too fierce. You must learn to rein in your edge if you wish to reach greater heights."
Fu Qingxuan, however, believed that the sword should follow the course of nature. She had already pushed herself once to attain the demigod realm.
She had no desire to push herself again.
If she simply let nature run its course, after a few years, she would naturally grasp how to restrain her edge.
Thus, every time Fu Qingyang started nagging, she would stuff his mouth with a chocolate ball.
After a few visits, Fu Qingyang predictably stopped coming.
He was probably cursing her as trash behind her back again. In the past, Fu Qingxuan had never imagined that the brat would dare grumble about her so brazenly, let alone badmouth her in front of his subordinates.
Right then, hurried footsteps approached from outside.
Fu Qingxuan hurriedly accessed her inventory, produced a jade bowl, and swept every snack, drink, and comic book off the desk into it.
Just as she finished, a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter!"
Standing outside, Elder Huangsha Baizhan sensed the restriction enveloping the bungalow dissolve and quickly twisted the doorknob.
Pushing the door open, the elder with graying temples saw a tall figure standing by the window with her hands behind her back, quietly contemplating the view outside.
Her silhouette radiated an almost suffocating majesty.
Huangsha Baizhan instinctively lowered his head and said, "Grand Marshal, something has happened."
Fu Qingxuan did not turn around. Rolling the chocolate ball inside her mouth, she let out an authoritative hum:
"Mm?"
Huangsha Baizhan reported:
"Fear Heavenly King has attacked Pingchuan City No. 3 Prison and freed all the convicts inside, claiming he was granting them their freedom. Spirit Realm Walkers from the local branch rushed to the scene to assess the situation, only to encounter Fear Heavenly King lingering inside. Not one of them has emerged.
"Grand Marshal, the fate of our colleagues in the Pingchuan branch remains unknown, and dangerous criminals are running wild. If Fear Heavenly King continues striking other facilities, the entire region will descend into utter chaos. The members of the Pingchuan branch are already in a state of panic.
"All four Alliance Leaders are currently in Capital City, so we can only turn to you."
As an elder of the White Tiger Guards and a seasoned Puppeteer, he maintained an impressively steady and collected demeanor, even when discussing a demigod-level powerhouse.
"Granting criminals their freedom? Has Fear's illness deteriorated to such a degree?" The female Grand Marshal's voice was aloof and imperious. "No matter. I shall intervene. You need only tell me where Pingchuan City is."
"Three hundred kilometers northwest of Songhai," Elder Huangsha Baizhan replied, clearly familiar with her habits. "I have already sent the coordinates to your phone."
The Grand Marshal gave a slight nod. "Inform 'Old Man and the Dog' that I am stepping out for a brief period. While I am away, remember to transfer Demonic Eye to the innermost zone of the Zoo."
The moment the words left her mouth, the window glass shattered with a deafening crash, followed by an ear-splitting sonic boom.
Huangsha Baizhan raised his eyes just in time to see a streak of snow-white sword light shoot into the firmament at meteor-like speed, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The Grand Marshal had departed.
"What happened?"
A gentle voice spoke from behind.
Huangsha Baizhan turned around to see a curly-haired toy poodle sitting by the doorway, its black, button-like eyes gazing up at him.
"Fear Heavenly King is wreaking havoc in Pingchuan City. The Pingchuan branch reached out to the patrol division for assistance, and when they couldn't get hold of Fu Qingyang, the call was forwarded to me," Huangsha Baizhan explained.
"Fear Heavenly King?" Elder Dog trotted into the room. "That fellow has been rather restless lately. Hopefully the Grand Marshal will teach him a proper lesson this time. Her sword qi is not something one can purge with ease..."
He paused, his nose twitching. "What is that smell?"
"What smell?" Huangsha Baizhan sniffed the air, detecting nothing.
Elder Dog continued twitching his nose as he circled the room. "There's a cloying sweetness... Like chocolate?"
Huangsha Baizhan gave him a look that clearly asked if he had lost his mind. "Why would there be the smell of chocolate in the Grand Marshal's room?"
"...Could my nose be playing tricks on me?" Elder Dog found it preposterous himself. Deciding not to dwell on it, he said in a grave tone, "Why would Fear Heavenly King cause trouble at a time like this? I can't help feeling uneasy..."
Huangsha Baizhan pondered for a moment. "Are you worried about Fu Qingyang's side?"
Elder Dog nodded. "If the Grand Marshal gets tied down by Fear, and something goes awry in Jinshan City, there is no way she can return in time to assist."
"Put your mind at ease. With so many Dominators present, as long as they don't cross paths with a demigod, there shouldn't be any major issues," Huangsha Baizhan said with a smile. "Even if they do encounter a demigod, Elder Gaofeng possesses a rule-based item—a treasure capable of withstanding even the Grand Marshal's sword qi."
Only then did the tension ease across Elder Dog's furry face.
"Ah, right. The Grand Marshal instructed me to remind you: while she is away, move Demonic Eye to the inner zone of the Zoo." Having delivered his message, Huangsha Baizhan exchanged a few more casual remarks before taking his leave.
Elder Dog slowly ambled out of the room. Reaching the threshold, he suddenly turned back and sniffed the air intently, muttering under his breath, "I didn't mistake it. It really is chocolate... No, that's impossible. How could the Grand Marshal possibly eat chocolate..."
As he mumbled to himself, the plants in the flowerbed beside the doorway rustled softly.
Elder Dog pricked up his ears and listened for a moment, deciphering the message conveyed by the vegetation.
—The phone he had left in his room was ringing.
Without hesitation, Elder Dog dissolved into a flash of green light. A moment later, he reappeared inside the pet shop nestled deep within the outer perimeter of the Zoo.
The phone on the desk was vibrating persistently, displaying an incoming video call from an unfamiliar number.
Elder Dog hopped onto the desk, pondered for a couple of seconds, and tapped the accept button with his paw.
The video call connected. After a two-second stutter, a refined, gentle face appeared on the screen.
Elder Dog's button-like black eyes snapped wide.
Like a terrified pet dog, he recoiled several paces in pure instinct.
Chapter 502