–Sigh, we can’t see what’s happening at all.–
–It always glitches at the crucial moments, and by the time it comes back, everything’s already changed. This subway sure took a beating.–
The crowd chimed in with their comments.
–But this time, the nightmare train didn’t run away—it actually went all out against Yang Zicang like this.–
One narrow-eyed man stared at the two lowest screens.
–Wait, what the hell is that thing under Yang Zicang’s feet? It can fly—did he get another treasure?–
More people packed into the room, and after a brief silence, someone spoke:
–Damn, he definitely looted that from one of the overseer’s subordinates.–
–Fuck, I’m kind of tempted to head to the Shibin Wastes now. I’ve never even seen a flying treasure like that before.–
Even the high-ranking experts stationed in the city had rarely laid eyes on a flying artifact, yet there it was, in Yang Zicang’s hands.
–Oh, he snagged another good one!–
–Alright, enough bickering.–
Ju Yin Chase clapped from the front, signaling everyone to quiet down.
–The outcome of this anomaly in the Shibin Wastes will have a major impact on us, too. No one’s to leak any information carelessly. And anyone who knows a Penglord with divine stones—tell them to get their stones ready. They must be handed over to Yang Zicang. If not, once this is over, I’ll send someone to conduct a purge.–
Clearly, Yang Zicang’s collection of the Divine Stones was to deal with the Editor-in-Chief, and the tragedies that occurred earlier at the Shibin Wastes were all the handiwork of its subordinates. Under no circumstances must the Shibin Wastes be allowed to become a claimed domain—especially by such an unshakable deity—or else there would be no room left for free human existence afterward.
The crowd listened to Ju Yin Chase’s instructions.
He had already mentioned this before, but brought it up again after more people had entered the observation room this time. This time, however, he had even said the word –purging,– making it clear just how grave the situation was.
The Moxels on many people’s chests lit up as they began contacting their acquaintances among the Cargo Crew stationed at the hub settlements scattered across the Shibin Wastes, conveying the decision made in Futown.
Inside the train car.
Xingmiao’s translucent body sat cross-legged on the floor, with a few fragmented, broken bones floating within his form.
These divine stones, bound by chains, hovered around Xingmiao.
{Continue collecting more divine stones. As for these stones whose power has been sealed, I will need some time to break their confinement.}
–Understood.– The few of them nodded.
As the ripples faded away, the sky was once again shrouded in darkness.
The train headed toward the telekinetic platform in Wang Chong, collected the phalanx from the camp, and then proceeded toward the location Xingmiao had indicated. They could also sense that the energy emanating from Xingmiao was growing stronger.
Because each of them carried the –aura of death,– the trio was not replaced while at the camp.
Xiao Liu, bruised and battered from the fall, looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and said:
–This place isn’t on the previous map.–
–After all, in the past half day, the divine stones in various regions have changed hands quite a few times—updating the map seems only natural.–
The Phantom Train came to a halt in a mountain hollow.
–It’s you!–
Yang Zicang recognized at a glance the man standing beside a few stones—it was Li Shangxiang, formerly of the Desert Cargo Crew.
–Hello there, Yang Zicang?–
He stepped forward politely, a hearty smile on his face:
–Actually, I belong to the Shiqian Team. These stones we’ve collected over the past few days—there are six in total.–
–That many.–
Robin Lo stared at the stones in shock.
Suddenly, they burst with a bang, transforming into energy.
The energy then condensed into bone fragments of varying sizes, flying into the train and assembling onto Xingmiao’s skeletal frame.
Its aura instantly became more condensed, and the train grew eerier, as if it could truly bring death to the land, becoming a ghostly vehicle traversing the midnight darkness, impenetrable to the living.
Li Shangxiang cast an envious glance, walked over, and handed over a simple map:
–Some of us were once chosen by the divine stones, so we received revelations. Apart from these six pieces in my hand, there are a few more collected over these past two days at two other locations—you can go get them.–
This was a huge help. Zuo Feixian was reminded at this moment of the two previous mental transmissions directed at him, yet, out of caution, he had chosen to feign ignorance.
Lee Shangxiang handed over the map, dusted off her hands with a pat, and smiled at Yang Zicang:
–To be honest, the entire operation tonight was carried by Wuying; without him, how could we have been so efficient?–
The others all understood—it was most likely through Wuying’s shadowy means that they had been stolen.
–Thank you all. With these, we should have enough.–
Xingmiao’s physical remains were scattered across at least a hundred points. According to its requirements, gathering just one-third of them would suffice to deal with the chief editor.
It’s hard to fathom just how powerful it is at its full strength.
The train began moving, and Robin Lo sighed,
–Now that’s what I call people from our city. Shi Qian lives up to his name—though he’s often up to petty thievery in the Shibin Wastes, he knows damn well in a true moment of crisis: even a thief abides by his code.–
Xiao Liu suppressed his temper.
One after another, beams of streaming light shot toward him—Penglords wielding divine stones were using Communication Crystal to summon Yang Zicang.
With celestial anomalies above and dual pressure from the Silver and Crimson Twin-Pillar Hubs bearing down from both sides, many Penglords realized tonight likely heralded some drastic upheaval. One after another, they contacted him to surrender their divine stones.
Suddenly, a transmission laced with terrified words shot through.
{Yang Zicang, our Peng Zone has been destroyed.}
Yang Zicang quickly connected, gazing at the dim scene behind this stranger — a land covered in dust and smoke, its buildings completely gone.
–Do you know who did it?– he said, connecting the call with a faint sense of unease.
No sooner had he established the Syn-Link than a semi-transparent female form, shimmering like fluctuating waves, materialized behind the terrified man. She seemed to break through the illusion and appear right before him, startling Yang Zicang so much that he nearly recoiled.
On her peerlessly beautiful and unparalleled face, merciless eyes swept toward him.
{You are Yang Zicang. Stop collecting these things, and I will grant you the Moxel promotion item you desire. Additionally, I invite you to join my company and become an official working for me in building a homeland on this land.}
Yang Zicang’s brain buzzed, and by the time he came to his senses again, the connection had already been severed.
He turned around and looked behind him, only to see Xingmiao raising her head.
–She is very far from you, a distance that would normally make contact impossible. As for the item—hah, you are already a Quad. As far as I know, that kind of thing is useless to you.–
It was only then that Yang Zicang realized the reason that person could contact him was because the editor-in-chief was reaching out to him.
Then he thought of Mr. Shao and the giant shadow that had chased him before. Their Moxels were all Quad; if the items were effective, they should have already become pentagons by now.
Yang Zicang nodded, a little disappointed.
The three looked with surprise at the figure formed from shattered bones.
–You… can speak now?–
Xingmiao said softly, –Now that I can vibrate the air, naturally I can produce sound.–
At the moment, it seemed a little melancholic, leaving the others feeling they had a backbone yet afraid to ask more.
Snap!
A chain on a divine stone snapped.
The broken golden chain turned into vibrating energy, convulsing as if alive.
Xingmiao pressed with its finger, and the energy coiled like a snake, biting and convulsing, then instantly burst into dim strips of energy. With a wave of its hand, the mass shot rapidly toward the carriage wall.
–For you.–
Little Matt Chao seemed to let out a joyful cheer and whooshed off, shooting far away.
With the integration of this energy, the eerie aura on everyone diminished considerably.
Beside the small mound ahead, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was standing by a nightmare-powered pickup truck carrying three divine stones.
–Shadowless, thank you for your help. Time is short; let’s catch up another time.–
In an instant, those three stones transformed into ink-jade-like skeletal remains, hurtling toward the carriage.
–Hold on.–
Before departing, Wuying called out to Yang Zicang: –Take this.–
He even tossed over that sharp pyramid-like treasure.
–This…–
–Just in case you find it useful. Go on—protecting the Shibin Wastes falls to you now; my mission is over.–
The man said with a smile, waved his hand, and vanished on the spot.
Xingmiao glanced at the visibly moved Yang Zicang and said meaningfully:
–Zuo Feixian and you both rejected my request, so I notified more people instead. Get it?–
–Please forgive us.– Yang Zicang quickly admitted his mistake.
–Forgiveness doesn’t matter—I’ve never blamed anyone. However, due to the suppression by the class hierarchy, your act of rejecting me will naturally stir some misfortune. Beware of that.–
Zuo Feixian laughed and said:
–No wonder today’s been so… uh, unlucky. I nearly died, hahaha. Great lord, next time I’ll definitely obey your instructions right away, no hesitation.–
Xingmiao sighed softly: –It’s fine. Not easily trusting people is the right thing to do here. After all, human nature is inherently selfish—albeit to different degrees—so I’m not blaming you.–
Robin Lo nodded thoughtfully.
–Oh, yes, yes. Unless it’s tested, none of us can be fully trusted. Zi Cang, look at our revolutionary friendship—it’s already passed an enormous trial. From now on, we should find a peach orchard, set up some wine, and whatnot.–
–A Fourfold Oath in the Peach Orchard?– Xiao Liu looked at the trio. –I’ve been tested too, haven’t I?–
–Haha, tonight there were plenty of helpers—like Wu Ying, like Lee Shangxiang. Altogether, that’d need two rounds of the Threefold Oath in the Peach Orchard.– Zuo Feixian counted on his fingers.
Xing Miao, overhearing their chatter from the side, gave a slight shake of her head.
Yang Zi Cang scanned the map: –Next place is…–
–No need to collect anymore.–
After sensing the changes in her body, Xing Miao silently resumed removing the seals from the stone blocks. The golden chains around them trembled faintly, visible to the naked eye, as if they might shatter at any moment.
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