Chapter 78 of 100
Chapter 78
9 min read2,128 words
The official enforcers entered in a single file, naturally splitting into two teams. One team was responsible for treating the injured, while the other team was tasked with inspecting the scene, finishing off any survivors, and eliminating any potential threats.
A female member of the Hundred Flowers Society squatted down to examine two poisoned Firemasters, her tone changing slightly:
"Centurion, their vital signs are weak. They need to immediately take diluted Life Essence, or they will be in mortal danger."
In the Lawful faction, both Musicians and Wood Sprites possess Life Domain skills, but at the Extraordinary stage, neither profession has the ability to bring the dead back to life.
This powerful skill can only be controlled by high-ranking enforcers.
Therefore, the "Life Essence" of the Musician profession has always been an important strategic resource for the authorities. It can have an immediate effect on critically injured patients.
The Five Elements Alliance purchases a large amount of Life Essence from the "Three Houses of Musicians" every year, making it very precious.
Fu Qingyang said in a deep voice, "Treat them immediately."
The female Wood Sprite unfastened her tactical backpack, took out two syringes, and administered intravenous injections to the two poisoned Firemasters.
The heavily injured and unconscious Muscle King also received similar treatment, but Li Dongze did not. The female Wood Sprite from the Hundred Flowers Society gave him a simple bandage, detoxification, and dressing.
Qingteng and others also received treatment.
Fu Qingyang walked to Guan Ya's side, took off his coat, and draped it over her shoulders, frowning and asking:
"Are you okay?"
Guan Ya adjusted the collar of her suit and shook her head.
At this moment, the team leader in charge of clearing the battlefield returned with his team and reported:
"Centurion, all the enemies have been killed, none are alive."
This team leader sighed and said:
"The four Gu beasts all had the strength of 3rd-level Firemasters. You managed to eliminate them without any casualties, which is truly incredible. However, there's something I don't understand. Two of the Gu beasts had no wounds, their bodies were stiff and cold, and they must have been dead for several hours.
"How did you do it?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Jun raised an eyebrow and immediately moved to the corpse of "Hengxing Wujin," squatting down to observe it.
Fu Qingyang's heart stirred, and he looked at Guan Ya, asking, "What happened?"
"Those two were killed by Yuanshi." Guan Ya replied succinctly.
"No, not two." Bai Long, who had been treated, added, leaning on his sword: "Three."
"Yuanshi Tianzun? The new player who cleared the S-level Gold Water Amusement Park? Where is he? I haven't seen what he looks like yet." The young woman who was bandaging the Muscle King looked up, her face excited.
Her direct team leader gave her a stern look, dampening her excitement.
Three... Fu Qingyang looked at Qingteng and Tang Guoqiang, seeing that they did not contradict her. The few injured 2nd-level enforcers seemed to recall something, their faces showing both admiration and fear.
"Indeed, it is the Night Walker's technique..." Ling Jun clicked his tongue: "Just a 2nd-level Night Walker, and his combat power is so strong? How long has this kid been a Spirit Realm enforcer?"
After saying this, he added regretfully: "Handing him over to the Five Elements Alliance was a mistake."
Fu Qingyang glanced at him and then looked at Guan Ya: "Where is Yuanshi Tianzun?"
"He's upstairs," Guan Ya looked up: "Dealing with something."
...
Compared to the chaotic mess in the hall, the second-floor room was relatively well-preserved. Zhang Yuqing found the item in the third room facing outward.
It was an incense burner, with a bronze tripod base and a body made of a black wood carved into a squatting toad, its mouth open wide to the sky.
The toad incense burner was quietly placed on the table.
Zhang Yuqing, suppressing the itching in his throat, staggered to the bed, pulled the curtains, pushed open the window, and took several deep breaths of fresh air.
The slight dizziness subsided, and he returned to the table, picking up the toad incense burner. A message appeared in his field of vision:
【Name: Celestial Toad Incense Burner】
【Type: Tool】
【Function: Toxin】
【Description: In ancient times, a genius from a certain witchcraft tribe in the Southern Ridge decided to create a colorless and odorless poison that could kill silently. After years of relentless research, he successfully made this incense burner. However, he found that the poison in the incense burner was colorless and odorless but not very potent and took effect slowly, so he discarded it. Half a month later, the entire tribe was dead.】
【Note: Have you stacked your poison resistance yet?】
Zhang Yuqing immediately put the item into his inventory, thinking it was a very deceptive item.
From the description and note, he understood the characteristics of the item. First, the poison does not distinguish between friend and foe; even the owner of the item can be poisoned. Hengxing Wujin could withstand it because of his high poison resistance as a witchcraft master.
Second, the Celestial Toad Incense Burner becomes more toxic the longer it is left out. Its poison continuously volatilizes, and if not properly stored, it can harm a large area, even killing an entire witchcraft tribe.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Yuqing reopened his inventory to check the information on the Celestial Toad Incense Burner.
"From ancient times... Southern Ridge... witchcraft tribe?"
He sensed something different from the information. Based on the "Description," it seemed that a high-level Spirit Realm enforcer from a distant era created this item.
It then either ended up in the Spirit Realm and was obtained by "Hengxing Wujin," or it had been passed down in the real world. However, the most important part was "ancient times."
What era does "ancient" refer to? How many years ago?
Did there exist Spirit Realm enforcers in that era? But the attribute panel is a modern concept, isn't it?
Well, whether it's a modern concept or not is uncertain, but if ancient people had the concept of an attribute panel, it would be too out of place... Zhang Yuqing muttered to himself: "I should find time to investigate the origin of the Spirit Realm, if I have the authority to do so."
If ancient people did not have the concept of an attribute panel, then the familiar attribute information they now know comes from a very mysterious source.
Even the existence of Spirit Realm enforcers in ancient times is questionable.
"The Spirit Realm itself has many secrets. I've always felt that the existence of morality points is unreasonable, with a strong human touch, unlike something naturally generated..."
At this moment, Zhang Yuqing noticed his colleagues downstairs evacuating on a large scale.
He immediately left the room and descended the stairs.
The official enforcers in the first-floor living room had been dismissed. In the center of the living room, a young man in a white suit sat in a high-backed chair, with a background of broken furniture, dark red bloodstains, overturned sofas, and cracked walls.
His suit was as white as snow, his features handsome, his expression cold and serious, forming a stark contrast with the surroundings.
Zhang Yuqing scrutinized the man in the white suit, who was also scrutinizing him.
When Zhang Yuqing finished descending the last step, the young man in the white suit nodded slightly: "Fu Qingyang."
There are actually men in the world who are more handsome than me... Zhang Yuqing bowed: "Centurion, good."
He had long heard of the Centurion's reputation from Li Dongze, born into a wealthy family, a prodigy, calm and wise, brave and upright, and rich... Well, the last one was what Guan Ya said.
Now he finally met this "legendary" figure, and his first impression was of pride, nobility, and sharpness, the kind of person you have to think three times before joking with.
Strangely, Zhang Yuqing did not feel repulsed, as Fu Qingyang's nobility and pride were very pure, matching his appearance and demeanor.
Fu Qingyang sat in the high-backed chair, his tone calm:
"There's no need to be formal with me. I've been watching you for a long time and wanted to meet you earlier. But Guan Ya said you are a lecher with no courage, so I decided to observe you further."
Do you discriminate against lechers? No, I'm not a lecher... Zhang Yuqing explained: "That's her misunderstanding. I believe Centurion Fu should make your own judgment."
Fu Qingyang said coolly: "She strongly recommended that I promote you to squad leader, believing you to be one of the top talents in the new generation of the Five Elements Alliance."
Zhang Yuqing changed the subject: "She has a good eye for people."
Fu Qingyang looked at him deeply.
For some reason, Zhang Yuqing subconsciously avoided his gaze. He did not like this sharp, penetrating stare.
I hate the gaze of scouts... Zhang Yuqing grumbled inwardly, about to meet his gaze, but Fu Qingyang looked away, toward the corpse of Hengxing Wujin, and asked:
"What do you think of this battle?"
His tone was calm, more like an examination of a valued subordinate than a simple inquiry.
Thinking that the Centurion held him in high regard, Zhang Yuqing chose his words carefully and answered:
"The enemy knew our deployment and numbers in advance, and they knew us inside out. There's a lot going on behind the scenes."
Fu Qingyang said bluntly: "There is someone in the official ranks who colluded with Hengxing Wujin and betrayed you."
In other words, we have a traitor among us! Zhang Yuqing nodded.
"So I sent everyone away. The next matter is only known to you and me." Fu Qingyang glanced at the corpse of Hengxing Wujin.
Zhang Yuqing understood his meaning, walked to the grotesque and fearsome corpse, and saw a black, viscous substance welling up in the corpse's eyes.
The spirit lingering in the body revived, floating out in wisps and coalescing into a translucent shadow above the corpse, baring its teeth and snarling at Zhang Yuqing, extremely fierce.
"I might go a bit crazy after devouring the spirit of an evil profession..." He took out the Demon Subduing Staff and handed it to Fu Qingyang: "This item can purify mental pollution."
He gave the Demon Subduing Staff to Li Dongze out of trust in his character, and to Fu Qingyang because of his wealth and influence, not because he would covet Zhang Yuqing's items.
Fu Qingyang...
Zhang Yuqing said no more, took a deep breath, and swallowed the spirit.
...
His third eye suddenly swelled, as something foreign forcefully entered his mind.
Countless fragmented scenes surged in, like a slideshow of Hengxing Wujin's most vivid memories.
Hengxing Wujin came from a poor family and worked hard to change his fate. After entering society, he found that his proud academic credentials were not very useful. After a few years of work, he realized that working diligently only led to more tasks from his superiors, turning him into a corporate slave.
He could not compete with those with connections or those who flattered but lacked ability. After ten years of work, he still could not afford a house, which was a prerequisite for marriage. His father was a simple farmer with no savings.
Being honest and hardworking offered no hope, while taking shortcuts led to great wealth.
He did not know where his future lay and became very lost until one day, he used his position to earn a huge fortune. From then on, Hengxing Wujin fell into corruption and developed a liking for this adventurous behavior.
Finally, the scene changed, and Zhang Yuqing saw a dark bedroom, with a ghost floating beside the bed.
"Where is the Black Impermanence? Trust is the foundation of cooperation, it seems we don't trust each other enough."
"You have two options: one is to wait for the corrupt individuals on the list to lose control..."
"To show my sincerity, I will reveal the deployment and actions of the official enforcers to you."
...
In the same dark bedroom, Hengxing Wujin cut his wrist, letting the blood drip into a black wooden bowl inscribed with incantations. The blood in the bowl twisted and formed a human face.
"Boss, the Dark Rose people have come to see you, wanting to meet."
"Meeting now is too early. Dealing with tigers requires caution... Has their leader come?"
"I don't know. Boss, controlling the Fallen Holy Grail is the key."
"Are you teaching me how to do things?"
"I wouldn't dare..."
"What else did he say?"
"He said he would provide the action plans of the official teams and set up ambushes to relieve your pressure."
"We can try..."
Dark