Two days later, every fighter with even a modicum of strength and all those with acceleration abilities from the entire 25th City gathered on the isolated island; the shore was ablaze with clamor.
That night, because someone had entered the island, the monsters were entirely lured to the opposite side. Cheng Yunze seized the opportunity to quickly give orders, penetrating deep into the island to draw a map of the nearby area and the dense footprint zones of the earth-bound spirits.
Combining these two days of meticulous observation and multiple negotiations, they finally devised a relatively sound plan.
–We don’t know who that person is, but if it’s only one, the impact on our plan shouldn’t be too great.–
Cheng Yunze said, –Let’s start entering the city today.–
With the order issued, teams of people began to follow fixed routes to lure the outer earth-bound spirits. Each time they successfully drew a few away, others pushed deeper into the island, gradually diverting the remaining monsters.
Waves of spreading mental pressure gradually washed over the entire island.
–Group 2 is already moving. Let’s follow.–
–Only by making our overall strength greater can we gain more benefits from Hub Town. Everyone, do your best!–
……
Deep within the island, Hong Haocheng looked at the three people before him, who had cut off the broadcast they were eavesdropping on.
–They’re starting to come in,– Li Yongqin said. –President Haocheng, what’s your plan?–
Hong Haocheng’s gaze fell on Zhang Miao’s body, which was missing an arm. Although the fever caused by infection had been suppressed, his face was pale and drained of color.
–Let’s go back. Back to your city,– the youth said.
–No, Haocheng. You can’t miss this opportunity.–
Zhang Miao weakly raised her only arm and placed it on his shoulder. –Go show them what you’ve got. Go in with them, and you’ll definitely be valued. You’ll become an indispensable right hand for the Four Phase Team exploring the Eleven Cities.-
Hong Haocheng took a deep breath.
–I am Red Moxel.-
Cui Rong glanced over. –President, Captain Cheng of the Four Phase Team is actually quite tolerant of talented individuals from Red Moxel. But maybe it’s selfishness…-
He looked at the two of them with a rueful smile. –Honestly, I don’t want anyone to know about Haocheng’s reconnaissance skills. We’re the only ones in the Hongtu Society. Wouldn’t it be great if each of us could get a virtual-zero weapon and go into A-level intersecting grounds from now on?-
Li Yongqin shot a glance at Cui Rong and pursed his lips.
Still, that was exactly what he wanted too.
Hong Haocheng pondered for a long time. After several minutes of silence, he looked up. –Actually, I’m a doctor.-
–What?- The three of them opened their mouths slightly, thinking, What kind of stunt is he pulling now?
–What does that have to do with going in or not?-
Hong Haocheng stood up. –I’m going to make a medicine for Zhang Miaomiao. If he can recover, we’ll enter the city together.-
The three people on the ground stared wide-eyed.
–President, you must be joking.-
–Who’s joking with you? I am mighty and domineering—am I the kind of person who jokes around?!-
–No.- Cui Rong hugged the unremarkable longsword he had picked up last, his voice tinged with tears. –We didn’t want to go in either.-
–Cut the crap. Give me your sword.-
–No, it’s mine.-
–Look at you, such a pathetic sight. I’ll trade you this meteor hammer for it.-
–Fine, fine, fine!-
Cui Rong gleefully accepted the meteor hammer, while Hong Haocheng picked up the longsword he had brought back.
[I obtained the 60N bloodline Chronos weapon, the Odd-Even Lake Sword.]
[I discerned the special effect of the bloodline weapon, the Odd-Even Lake Sword: odd cuts matter, even cuts wind, odd-and-even cuts spirit.]
[The Odd-Even Lake Sword declares it is currently even.]
Hong Haocheng glanced at the three people before him, and counting himself, there were indeed four. But he could understand odd and even individually—what did this ‘odd-even’ mean?
Li Yongqin angrily rebuked Cui Rong: –Are you insane? You traded this crappy sword for Haocheng’s Void Zero weapon?-
He turned around and said, –Haocheng, don’t listen to him. You can use our weapons as you please. That meteor hammer is yours.-
Cui Rong was taken aback, and as if waking from a dream, he threw away the now-claimed meteor hammer. –Ah, but my sword is at least a sixty-year Chronos weapon.-
–As if it’s worthy?-
–Fine, fine, I don’t want the Void Zero weapon anymore. That thing is yours.-
–President, although the meteor hammer belongs to me, you have 24-hour access to use it whenever you want.-
[The Odd-Even Lake Sword declares: even cuts wind.]
The longsword in Hong Haocheng’s hand ignited with a silver-white ethereal flame. As he lightly swung it, the sword’s light carved wave-like ripples through the air, and the chatter of the group fell significantly.
–Oh, whatever. I’m leaving now, to make medicine for Zhang Miaomiao.-
Hong Haocheng picked up a lunch box and a bag he’d brought from the boat, jumped onto the windowsill, and turned his head to say, –I still need to catch some fish for soup; I might be late coming back. You guys stay right here, don’t wander off.-
Waves of mental pressure swept in from outside, like chilling, shudder-inducing gusts brushing across the soul.
Hong Haocheng had only run a short distance with his sword when a voice rang out in his mind.
[The Odd-Even Lake Sword declares: currently odd.]
After going a bit further, Hong Haocheng stopped and hid behind a broken wall; a three-meter-tall figure slowly walked past from the other side of the building.
[The Odd-Even Lake Sword declares: currently even. Chronos attack adjusted.]
Once the monster had moved on, Hong Haocheng dashed forward. The odd-even declarations kept sounding in his mind, annoying him until he roared inwardly.
[Shut up, I know.]
[I imagined silencing the non-existent mouth of the Odd-Even Lake Sword, and to my surprise, it actually worked.]
–Damn, either odd or even—what the hell is the point of odd and even?-
What drew the boy to this sword was that last effect; he guessed it must have something to do with telekinetic bodies, but he had no idea how to trigger it.
Hong Haocheng arrived at another safe hiding spot. In the abandoned basement, he picked up the sword and gestured with it over his own hand.
–Haah…-
Several deep breaths.
–Something that bad wife can do.-
He raised his sword, turned the blade sideways, and with a flash of cold light, struck down fiercely.
–I can do it too! Ugh!-
Clang!
The arm was severed, blood erupted and sprayed.
Hong Haocheng, who had fallen to the ground, propped himself up with the sword, but the next moment the long sword suddenly vanished, and he crashed to the ground with a thud, unconscious.
On his chest, Moxel glowed faintly.
[Councilor No. 38 is watching me as I lie unconscious.]
[Councilor No. 43 casts a scrutinizing gaze at me.]
{Stubborn fool.}
{But what this world lacks is not those who think they’re clever.}
In a daze, Hong Haocheng heard himself muttering inside his mind.
[Councilor No. 43 told me that using my own blood would be enough.]
A few hours later, the young man woke up, somewhat weary.
He first looked at his left hand—it had already healed. The Sword of Qijou Lake lay on the ground, and beside it was the other half of an arm, with coagulated blood staining the floor.
Disappointingly, this arm looked as if it had been left for a long time; it had decayed, leaving only the neatly severed bone intact, but that crumbled at a touch.
–Can’t use it anymore?-
Frowning at the blood in the lunchbox, he then looked at the sword lying aside.
He listened to the outside; under the setting sun, the entire island seemed to be locked in war, with chaotic shouts everywhere—it seemed someone had already given their life for this operation.
Hong Haocheng picked up his sword in disappointment, then recalled the voice he had heard during his coma.
–Blood?-
Two hours later, after dodging several waves of noisy crowds, Hong Haocheng returned to the trio.
–Brother Hong is back.-
They looked at the young man’s hands. Aside from the lunch box, there was no fish or medicine.
–It’s too chaotic. Can’t get out.- Hong Haocheng walked over to the sleeping Zhang Miao and shook him awake. –Here, drink this herbal medicine.-
–Herbal medicine?-
Before Zhang Miao could react, his mouth was forced open and the juice of some crushed unknown herb was poured down his throat.
Gulp. Gulp.
A strange, fishy odor filled his nose. Zhang Miao felt like vomiting but held it down.
As the herbal juice entered, he felt his body rapidly heating up, his heart pounding as if stimulated by hormones, and his stomach churning like a meat grinder, digesting everything inside.
–I…-
He curled up, sweat dripping down.
Li Yongqin and the other stared at Zhang Miao’s pulsating skin and exclaimed in shock, –Brother Hong, what did you feed him?-
–Medicine.-
As he spoke, a triumphant gleam flashed in Hong Haocheng’s eyes.
They saw that at the site of Zhang Miao’s broken arm, the skin was writhing like tiny tentacles, slowly extending outward.
Li Yongqin and the other watched with wide eyes.
–No… it can’t be!-
Zhang Miao’s body heat gradually faded, and he felt ravenous, but a stronger surge of excitement and shock gripped his heart. Because in less than half an hour, his missing arm had already grown back!
He looked up and saw Hong Haocheng sitting on the floor against the wall with a grin, one hand resting on the knee of a bent leg.
He recalled how, aboard the Enightmare aircraft, this same man had regenerated his own missing body parts and even his entire skin, which had been burnt beyond recognition, in just a few hours.
–Haocheng, you…- Zhang Miao wanted to ask something, but in the end, only two words came out.
–Thank you.-
–What’s there to thank? We’re the Hongtu Society!- The young man with fluffy hair stood up. –Didn’t Xiao Cui say it? We, the ‘Pengcheng Hengyan’, must ‘march together.’ So our first guild rule is: ‘Share weal and woe.’-
–Yeah, right, right.- Cui Rong nodded happily. –Ah, no!-
–Get up. Let’s get ready to enter the 11th city together now.-
–No way—- Cui Rong grabbed onto Hong Haocheng’s foot.
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