Earth-bound spirits naturally carry Void Zero Chronos attacks—it’s just a matter of degree. If this giant earth-bound spirit hadn’t been sealed by the Lost Illusion Corporation, that single slap just now would have sent them both straight to meet Yama.
The towering, hunched figure slammed at high speed into the woman who had just scrambled to her feet.
Ning Jiajia recoiled half a step in terror, raising her hands in front of her. She remembered those people who had been shoved into its belly and instantly devoured, and she felt the shroud of death closing in.
–No!– she screamed in despair.
Boom! The giant fist crashed down.
But at that exact moment, a howling wind swept across the earth-bound spirit’s front, as if a sinister subway train had flashed by and vanished.
Rumble—boom—boom!
Explosive fragments shot out wildly, slamming into every corner of the hall like bullets, rubble and rock dust flying together.
Cheng Yunze stared at the spot in tension—Ning Jiajia had disappeared!
He then turned his gaze to the light curtain between the two pillars. Thankfully, it was still there, which meant Ning Jiajia was alive. After all, if a person dies, the teleportation gate she reproduced with her Moxel ability would shatter along with them.
Seizing this brief window, Cheng Yunze commanded the Light Skeleton to flash outward while he himself dragged his body, broken in multiple places, against the wall. He fished a healing-related ability orb from his pouch and crushed it. His bones cracked and popped as they rapidly mended.
Boom! Another explosion, and the giant indeed charged towards the phantom skeleton.
The sound of many footsteps approached.
Cheng Yunze ran towards the stone coffin with a cold expression, and Hong Haocheng inside nimbly leaped out.
–You broke the seal.-
At the other end of the hall, a young man holding a flaming long sword appeared. He strode calmly with his long legs, stepping on the stone slabs of the hall. The firelight illuminated half of his silhouette in the shadows; the flickering flames on the blade reflected his upright posture, and the faint glint in his eyes was like two sparks of fire in the dark underground.
–Yang Zicang!-
Cheng Yunze’s expression tightened as he turned to look—sure enough, this guy had appeared during the day!
But Cheng Yunze immediately felt relieved, because several figures holding weapons rushed out from the light gate beside him.
As soon as these people appeared, they were slightly stunned by the awe-inspiring figure walking before them—the Four Phases Heavenly Team had truly seen this legendary person from the –Subway Group- for the first time. He indeed exuded an aura unique to a strong person. Even in this place where the powerful earth-bound spirit rampaged, he remained unhurried, strolling as if inspecting his own territory.
Flashlights shone one after another, and dozens of people appeared in the distance. The young man opposite slightly raised his hand, and these people automatically quieted down and stopped.
Hong Haocheng, who had managed to hide himself behind the pillar, watched the standoff with a silent sigh. Where the hell did this guy come from? He was insufferably cocky—more like the gang’s spokesperson than Hong himself.
At this moment, though the Four Symbols Group seemed at a disadvantage, the mere fact that Cheng Yunze could use that translucent phantom skeleton to lead the earth-bound spirit around already filled the crew brought by Robin Lo with awe.
Who was that? Hong Haocheng sneaked a glance.
At the same time, the young man in the distance also looked toward the fluffy-haired boy. Their eyes met, and Hong Haocheng behind the pillar quickly snapped his head back.
–Yang Zicang!-
A member of the Four Symbols Group bellowed, –What did you do to Ning Jiajia!-
That’s Yang Zicang? Hong Haocheng wanted another look—that guy was a big name that Cui Rong and those Zhang and Li guys had all been hyping up!
–Still haven’t figured it out? I saved her.- Yang Zicang’s voice came calmly.
[Woo——]
Everyone seemed to sense something and turned toward the darkness. An eerie aura there radiated fear-inducing fluctuations; a woman’s muffled cries for help seemed to come from a sealed space.
–Release her, Yang Zicang.- Cheng Yunze stepped forward.
–I will.-
Hong Haocheng, leaning against the pillar, was thinking when his eyes suddenly shifted toward that darkness.
A ghostly train head, barely visible, gradually emerged from the darkness, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression. The eerie aura crept closer inch by inch.
–This… is this the Metro Group’s subway?-
Hong Haocheng pressed his back tightly against the pillar, staring at the terrifying head of the ghost train that seemed to be watching him.
Yang Zicang knew that the person behind the pillar must be the mysterious master Robin Lo couldn’t get any information on—a man capable of leading three dead weights into City 11 all by himself. So he didn’t dare let the train devour him recklessly; if the guy had special abilities, little Matt Chao might end up in trouble.
For now, it was only intimidation.
Hong Haocheng gripped his sword, kicked off the ground, and suddenly darted from behind the sturdy pillar to another column in the darkness. But the moment he moved, seven or eight flashlight beams locked onto him, like spotlights illuminating the space around him.
The train immediately followed, running parallel to him.
Boom! On the other side, the earth-bound spirit finally caught the phantom skeleton again, raining down thudding punches that sent its bones flying.
Yang Zicang stepped forward and said to the fleeing man:
–Stop. Don’t run. You can’t escape.-
–I have no enmity with you!- Hong Haocheng shouted.
–But there are conflicts of interest.- Yang Zicang sighed slightly. –That’s a fact your very existence has already destined. Come with me to the Place of Lost Frequency, and next year I’ll let you return to the city, along with a generous Chronos compensation. It’s a good deal—just over three months.-
Hong Haocheng craned his neck to look. In the shadows, Yang Zicang’s cold gaze was like that of a predator eying its destined prey.
Ning Jiajia pressed her face against the train’s illusory glass, her mouth wide open as she called out, her expression filled with grief, terror, and despair.
The members of the Four Phases Heavenly Group dared not make a move. Even Cheng Yunze was afraid to lure the earth-bound spirit over, worried that Ning Jiajia might die by his hand rather than the spirit’s.
Anjuke shouted, –Yang Zicang, you’re not planning to wait until next year to let Ning Jiajia go, are you?-
From the distance, amid the clanging of swords and blades, a slightly plump figure leaped out.
–You’re right.-
Robin Lo leered, –But whether she’ll be willing to come back next year—heh, that’s beyond our control. Who knows, by then she might be raising kids with her husband!-
Anjuke and Mark instantly recognized that voice.
–You bitch! You wretched thing—-
Not only them, but also the other newcomers of the Four Phases Heavenly Group recognized that voice, like the whisper of a devil. Instantly, a chorus of curses erupted.
Cheng Yunze watched Yang Zicang’s retreating figure. If both of his city’s people fell into the enemy’s hands, not to mention by the end of the year, he would be utterly ruined immediately.
His eyes half-lidded, he spoke to Hong Haocheng:
–That one over there—this time our Four Phases Team came here just to rescue you. I represent the Four Phases Team in extending a final invitation: join our team, fill the gap we’re missing, and face the year-end City Ranking Battle. Otherwise—–
Yang Zicang turned his head. –Otherwise what? Do you believe I can make all of you disappear right this second?–
–You!–
The crowd shrank back like startled rabbits, pressing tightly against the spinning light gate.
–So ruthless, those two beasts.–
Hong Haocheng desperately wanted to go over and kick both groups flat, but he didn’t have the strength.
–Come out, or I’ll send you straight onto the Fate Trajectory.– Yang Zicang’s threat was cold.
Hong Haocheng’s face lit up. He poked his head out and said, –Really?–
Yang Zicang was momentarily surprised.
In all this time, this was probably the first person who had shown joy at the mention of his –Celestial Treasure.–
He instantly figured it out: the short-haired young man in front must have been chased all over City 23, hiding everywhere, and had probably long wanted to run away—just didn’t have enough Chronos.
With that thought, Yang Zicang smiled and continued forward.
–Of course it’s not that easy. Now I’ll give you two choices.–
He held the Flame Sword in his right hand and raised his left index finger.
–One: come out now, and I’ll treat you with courtesy.–
He extended his middle finger alongside his index finger.
–Two, I catch you, and you’ll be my prisoner.-
Then he extended his ring finger, only to quickly curl it.
–Three.-
His middle finger curled.
–Two.-
Only his index finger remained upright.
At the same time, the air behind Yang Zicang trembled slightly, and a blurry, distorted figure of a monster emerged.
The moment the young man looked over, the phantom’s cold, emotionless gaze seemed to pierce his spirit, as if directly gazing into the depths of each other’s souls.
–One.-
His index finger curled down as well. Paleshade Wyrm instantly surged forward.
Poof! The phantom skeleton flashed and collided directly in Paleshade Wyrm’s path.
A yellow ring of light ignited in Hong Haocheng’s eyes. With a single stomp, his figure leaped like a feline.
Yang Zicang’s calm eyes flew wide open—there was a ring in his eyes!
No wonder he was so troublesome!
The other party already possessed a bloodline—that was the symbol of a bloodline ring! He quickly gave chase, but twisted his foot and spun his body.
At the spot he was about to reach, the earth-bound spirit punched down, sending gravel flying.
–Roar!-
–Stop him!- Yang Zicang roared.
Cheng Yunze sprinted out, –Everyone, go all out to catch him!-
Though Cheng Yunze was far away and couldn’t see clearly, the instant shift in Yang Zicang’s aura confirmed that this rising star had uncovered the mysterious man’s bloodline secret!
–[Storm Fist!]-
Boom!
Yang Zicang’s fist sent forth a cascade of golden afterimages! The fierce gale struck the skeleton of light, momentarily knocking it back a step. That thing was bizarre—like a psionic force, yet possessing the properties of physical matter.
It was instantly seized by the earth-bound spirit. The huge, mottled, luminous figure grabbed it, hurled it upward, and slammed it against the high ceiling.
Paleshade Wyrm arrived like the wind. Hong Haocheng’s round eyes blazed with fury as he swept his gaze around and shouted,
–Don’t think I’m just the meat on your plate!-
The enemies blocking the way swarmed forward, while the pursuers from behind and their psionic attacks swiftly closed in.
That phantom skeleton vanished in an instant, then reappeared in Cheng Yunze’s palm, racing forward.
The earth-bound spirit whirled around in fury, its gaze locked on that bizarre skeleton; it stomped the ground and charged after the skeleton toward Hong Haocheng.
The target of all was the figure of the sword-wielding youth surrounded in their midst.
–Submit, or die.-
–Become our captive!-
Voices from both sides shouted in a jumble.
Hong Haocheng raised his sword with blazing eyes.
[The Sword of Parity Lake declares: currently odd.]
[The Sword of Parity Lake declares: now even.]
Countless figures surrounding him sprinted, closed in, reaching out hands and claws.
Under the unwavering stares of the crowd, with Yang Zicang’s absolute resolve to make sure he stays, and Cheng Yunze’s fury that the strength of City 41 must never surpass his own,
The long sword came down in a brutal slash.
A wrist was severed; blood sprayed through the air.
Hong Haocheng’s eyes bulged, he bit down on the sword hilt, and his right hand snatched the severed left wrist.
–You!- Yang Zicang was stunned beyond words.
Cheng Yunze flinched, and a chill ran down the spines of dozens of onlookers.
[I am the mysterious triangle.]
The transparent blade of the long sword erupted with golden phantom flames.
Hong Haocheng twisted his body with feline agility, tilted his head, and the sword in his mouth slashed toward the lunging, biting head of the Paleshade Wyrm.
The Paleshade Wyrm’s tiger-wolf head collided with the golden afterimage of the sword edge.
Bang!
[I offset 3000N!]
That arrogant tiger-wolf head was instantly split open by a massive gash, and at the same time, the Light Skeleton with the Earthbound Spirit charged in.
–Surrender, or die!- Cheng Yunze roared.
In that instant, Hong Haocheng swung the wrist in his hand toward the giant, blood arcing through the air.
–Awaken! The strongest of them all!-
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