The giant train sped along the boundless wasteland.
Inside the carriage, a scarred old man leaned against the window, drowsy. In his hazy state, he saw that terrifying dream again.
...
After long years, the sinful giant broke free from its shackles. The gold coins forged from its flesh and blood would now be repaid twofold.
Beneath its feet, the palaces built of gold instantly crumbled, turning into quicksand, all prosperity like an illusion.
On the ground, people as numerous as quicksand slaughtered each other, fiercely demanding the whereabouts of wealth. Piles of corpses formed mountains that seemed to reach the sky.
...
"Rumble—!"
Rolling thunder echoed through the sky. Liu Banxian woke up from his semi-conscious state, looking out the window with surprise and uncertainty, taking a deep breath.
Outside the window, the originally pitch-black sky glowed faintly red. Dark clouds surged and rolled like writhing flesh.
In the distance, in the direction of Dream Come True Entertainment City, the sky looked as if its throat had been slit, scarlet and viscous blood-light spilled across the sky, a sight of enchanting blood-redness as far as the eye could see.
"My goodness! Something big is going to happen..." Liu Banxian murmured.
As he spoke, he suddenly realized something. He fumbled in his satchel in a panic and quickly pulled out several heavy gold bricks, then threw them out the window without hesitation.
That was something he had exchanged at Dream Come True Entertainment City before leaving.
He had thought that after spending so many years there, he should take some things with him as retirement money, but now he wouldn't dare to keep them for anything.
The glittering gold bricks flew from the train, tracing a narrow arc, and fell onto the tracks with a crisp sound. As the train sped away, they gradually turned into a handful of pale quicksand.
----
Meanwhile, at the very top of the countless pavilions and towers of Lanruo Inn Brothel, a woman with a captivating figure leaned against the railing, gently fanning herself with a peony-embroidered round fan in her hand, gazing into the distance, her eyes deepening. On her fair arm, an ally contract mark was shining with a blood-red light.
Not long after, a soft sound of flapping wings came from the sky. A white cockatoo landed beside her, and with a flash of light, transformed into a young girl.
Embroidery Ball took a few steps forward and bowed to Black Peony, "Master, news just came from the front saying that a guest used fake chips. As soon as they took the chips, they turned into sand. What do you think..."
Black Peony glanced at Embroidery Ball out of the corner of her eye and interrupted, "Those weren't fake chips. It's just that someone violated the agreement."
"Agreement?" Embroidery Ball looked at her Master's back, her face full of confusion.
Black Peony did not respond to Embroidery Ball. She remained silent, gazing towards Dream Come True Entertainment City.
It seems that girl really brought change here, but this isn't the change I wanted!
If that person successfully escapes using her, the chips will also disappear. Without this medium, I'm afraid I'll be stuck here forever.
Hmph, he clearly promised that he would leave last... Is he going to disregard the contract?
Thinking this, Black Peony turned to Embroidery Ball and said, "Embroidery Ball, go to the Entertainment City and check the situation. Report back to me in time after finding out."
"Yes, Master!" Embroidery Ball responded, her figure flashing as she turned into a bird and flew away.
----
The wind howled in her ears.
Feeling the fierce wind rushing towards her face, Lu Yibei tightly hugged Jiang Li's waist, her fiery red hair like a battle flag fluttering behind her.
Fleeing on a big white horse, it seemed like she had seen this scene somewhere before?
It feels quite exciting, but it's too hard and hurts her butt... Lu Yibei thought.
The sound of glass shattering constantly exploded in her ears. Sharp glass shards scattered around the Entertainment City like a downpour, turning into quicksand before they even hit the ground.
Jiang Li's silver-white armor shone brightly, as if she had turned into moonlight, galloping along the gradually collapsing outer wall of the Entertainment City, pouring down from the clouds, flowing all the way to the chaotic streets.
The city built around Dream Come True Entertainment City was in chaos. People fled in panic, surging towards the station. Local gangs looted unscrupulously, collecting the last of the wealth.
Jiang Li was very fast, even on these chaotic streets, she moved freely. Soon, the Dream Come True Entertainment City train station appeared at the end of her sight. Countless fleeing people and urban legend gathered in the open space in front of the station.
If things continue like this, she might even be able to compete with Shui Ge for the title of Hua City's fastest legend, although the result would definitely still be Shui Ge winning... Lu Yibei secretly grumbled to herself, looking at Jiang Li's profile wrapped in armor.
Just then, a spine-chilling howl came from behind, echoing through the heavens and earth.
Lu Yibei shrank her neck and looked back at the Entertainment City.
In the distance, the white skyscraper that once symbolized wealth and dreams was already riddled with holes. Walls were cracking, load-bearing columns were collapsing, and statues were breaking in half and crashing to the ground. With a violent roar, tens of thousands of tons of quicksand spewed from the huge opening of the skyscraper, surging in all directions.
It was like a lake bursting its dam... Lu Yibei inexplicably had this thought.
A strong wind carrying a decaying scent howled around the skyscraper. Black shadows rose from inside the skyscraper, transforming into a hideous giant wolf. Its sharp claws and teeth scratched the walls, leaving numerous scars on the white surface.
It climbed to the top of the building, stretching its body wantonly. Its Spiritual Energy fluctuations soared, the surrounding air rippling layer by layer, leading to waves of bizarre and terrifying illusions.
As the Spiritual Energy fluctuations gradually intensified, its jet-black, shiny fur seemed to ignite, glowing with light. Brilliant radiance like melting metal flowed over its massive body, drawing complex incantations while dyeing its fur a golden color.
Very valuable! Even a single strand of fur could buy a city... Looking at the giant wolf seemingly made of gold, this thought involuntarily arose in Lu Yibei's mind.
Immediately, she shook her head fiercely. Thanks to Chatterbox Girl's friendly Popular Science, she knew that no matter how valuable it was, that wealth was the source of disaster.
Whoever used it would die!
"Rumble—!"
With a loud bang, the sky seemed to be torn open. A deep blackness was revealed in the dark clouds. Dazzling lightning descended, lashing the giant wolf like a whip. Endless firelight, like blood, seemed to dye the entire sky red.
However, it could not leave a single scar on the giant wolf's body, which was like it was cast from gold.
It raised its head towards the sky, towards the lightning, towards the flames, letting out an earth-shshattering howl that pierced the eardrums, as if declaring to the world that it was innocent, that it had returned.
Looking at that terrifying figure, Lu Yibei's face turned pale.
This was the first time she had faced a genuine Calamity-level Spiritual Energy fluctuation head-on, but besides fear, a strange sense of pity for the rabbit and the fox arose in her heart.
But...
Why was this happening? Lu Yibei thought in confusion. Just then, Jiang Li's cold voice entered her ears, pulling her thoughts back to her side.
"Hey, it's not the time to be spacing out. We're in trouble."
"Trouble? What trouble?" Lu Yibei said blankly.
Jiang Li glanced at Lu Yibei out of the corner of her eye and said calmly, "Just look for yourself and you'll know."
Hearing this, Lu Yibei looked around, and her expression immediately became serious.
At this moment, the area in front of the Dream Come True Entertainment City train station was crowded with fleeing people and urban legend. Sighs, cries, and quarrels converged into a overwhelming torrent that buzzed in her ears.
Lu Yibei, "..."
That's right, the giant train only runs once a day. Not long ago, Liu Banxian had already left on the only train of the day. Until that train returned, no one, human or urban legend, could leave here.
Unable to leave meant death.
This is indeed a fatal big trouble! Lu Yibei thought with a headache.
Just then, A Hua seemed to be stimulated by something. She frowned, her body trembled slightly, and she opened her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't make any sound.
Just now in the Entertainment City, the Rabbit Girl next to her suddenly went berserk. To protect Jiang Li, she took a heavy blow. Although not fatal, she was extremely weak at this moment, even struggling to speak a complete sentence.
However, even in this state, she had not completely lost consciousness, and the special ability of her Spirit Mark was still functioning.
Among the vast amount of Spiritual Energy fluctuations at the station, she sensed a special presence.
"A Hua, you rest well. Say whatever you need to say when your injuries are better," Jiang Li said softly, looking at A Hua in her arms.
However, A Hua shook her head, raised her hand with difficulty, grabbed Lu Yibei's clothes corner and gently pulled twice, then looked towards the crowd in the distance when Lu Yibei looked at her, and raised her chin.
Noticing A Hua's gaze, Lu Yibei was stunned for a moment. She turned her head and followed her line of sight, seeing a white cockatoo with pure white wings on the large statue in front of the station.
"..."
Is it Embroidery Ball?
Did A Hua wake up because she sensed her Spiritual Energy fluctuations? ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Lu Yibei grumbled to herself, patted Jiang Li's shoulder, and said excitedly, "Quick, quick, quick, that bird-person has flown away, follow her quickly, gee up, gee up!"
"..."
Silently, Jiang Li glared at Lu Yibei with a resentful look from the corner of her eye, raised her forelegs, leaped up, flew over the crowd and the railing, and rushed into the station.
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"Clip-clop—clip-clop—!"
The gentle sound of hooves colliding with the marble floor echoed. The silver-white figure, like a flash of lightning, broke through the obstacles of the crowd and finally stepped onto the tracks.
Jiang Li looked up, searched for the snow-white figure in the sky for a moment, her gaze slightly focused, and continued to gallop forward, following its flight path.
Just then, Lu Yibei's body suddenly twitched.
She inexplicably felt that something was being drawn out of her body. It was a physical thing, not an observable energy like Spiritual Energy. It seemed insignificant, but she definitely felt something being continuously stripped from her body, making her feel inexplicably comfortable.
It was like the spring breeze blowing in her face when she walked out of the hospital room after a serious illness, or like a lover's passionate kiss when she was disheartened, making her limbs, even every pore and every cell, cheer and sing silently.
Just as Lu Yibei was immersed in this wonderful feeling, unable to extricate herself, she suddenly felt a chill down her back. She turned her head sharply, and her eyes immediately felt a strong burning sensation.
The next moment, she saw strands of dark red flowing light flying across the sky.
An ominous aura, wicked like some extremely malicious curse.
The flowing light was like a continuous river, constantly converging towards the giant wolf perched on the white tall building, and the source of that river was actually her chest.
Lu Yibei was startled and quickly looked down, horrified to find a pitch-black vortex had appeared on her chest at some point. Inside was darkness to the extreme, and as the vortex spun rapidly, strands of dark red flowing light scattered in all directions.
What the hell is this? What's going on? Did Chatterbox Girl do this too?
As she was puzzled, a mournful howl echoed in the distance. Following the sound, the gap in the dark clouds above the sky had expanded several times at some point, and dazzling lightning descended, illuminating the giant wolf's figure in a stark white.
Dozens of lightning bolts crisscrossed and then converged into a single beam, fiercely striking across the giant wolf's body. The golden fur was instantly torn open with hideous wounds, and black blood surged and spilled everywhere, turning into gold, raining down on the gray city like a downpour.
"Howl—!"
A roar filled with pain and despair rang out. The giant wolf opened its eyes, realizing that the development of events was contrary to its wishes. In its eyes, which were like cast gold, the shadow of majesty and °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° anger flickered.
It searched around for a while and looked towards Lu Yibei's direction from afar, its eyes like fire converging on her. The gaze was scorching hot, as if it was about to burn.
Although the direction the giant wolf was looking at covered a very wide area, in just an instant, Lu Yibei understood that it was looking at her. A chill shot up from her spine directly to the top of her head, and her blood felt as if it was metalizing, causing a blockage.
"I'm going to die, I'm going to die! Miao Miao Jiang, run faster, if we're slow, we'll be finished today!" Lu Yibei shouted in panic while patting Jiang Li's butt through her armor.
"What?" Jiang Li froze for a moment, looked back in the direction of Dream Come True Entertainment City, her pupils contracted violently, and then she released her Spirit Mark to the extreme, rushing forward with a low hum of the air.
Lu Yibei, what on earth did you do? Jiang Li thought in horror.
That wicked giant wolf moved.
It arched its back, its limbs slightly bent, and leaped forcefully towards the sky, as if that single leap could take it from the white tall building several kilometers away to Lu Yibei's side.
However, the moment it leaped into the air, the dark red flowing light, like incredibly tough ropes, bound its body, pulled its body, and made it fall from the high altitude, crashing towards the ground.
----
In the city.
Innumerable people and urban legend chased the trail of scattered gold, rushing through the city, but instantly turned into withered bones upon contact with the gold. Even more people and urban legend fought fiercely over the gold, engaging in a brutal slaughter. The Fishy smell smell of blood filled every corner.
In these chaotic streets, a young girl wearing a tattered cloak was curled up in the gap between two trash cans, staring blankly at everything.
"Ding—ding—!"
Suddenly, a crisp and pleasant sound rang out not far away. A piece of gold fell from the sky and rolled to a place not far from the girl.
She stared with wide eyes at the dazzling gold, feeling that it exuded endless temptation, driving people crazy, worth fighting for with everything she had.
But...
But, Dad said not to accept favors from others for free. If I pick up that piece of gold, wouldn't it be considered accepting a favor from someone else? the girl thought.
While she was briefly hesitating, two figures quickly passed by in front of her. One of them snatched the gold first, and the next moment, their body was torn apart by the one who came after.
So hot blood spilled and flowed, spreading all the way to the girl's front.
She looked at all this in horror, her eyes vacant, and then shrank further into the gap of the trash cans, trembling and grabbing a wooden board to shield herself.
Immediately after, a loud bang came from the distance, and the ground trembled violently, as if a small asteroid had hit the ground. Surging air waves rolled up countless rocks and soil, attacking and burying the girl's small and weak body.
----
Just like the scene Liu Banxian saw in his dream, the people and urban legend of the entire city fell into madness due to the giant wolf's fall.
They surged out of the city, scrambling to grab the blood spilled from the giant wolf.
In the deeply sunken ground, the giant wolf struggled to get up, panting heavily, inhaling a huge amount of air into its lungs. The figures approaching it instantly suffocated, and then two white pillars of air slowly sprayed from its nostrils, carrying Spiritual Energy fluctuations and creating a high-energy storm that tore apart the bodies of those figures.
It regained its footing, looked in the direction Lu Yibei had left, took a step, and leaped forward.
The ground trembled, its heavy footsteps like thunder, countless crazed figures relentlessly pursuing the massive and deadly body.
However, the dark red flowing light wrapped around its body tightened more and more, cutting through the golden fur and sinking into its flesh.
Large areas of flesh and blood decayed and fell from its body, exposing the stark white bones. New flesh and blood grew instantly, covering the bones. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Thus, accompanied by the drastic consumption of Spiritual Energy, its forward speed became slower and slower, heavier and heavier, until it finally fell heavily to the ground.
A violent roar erupted, like a signal, causing countless figures coveting its flesh and blood to swarm towards its body like ants smelling blood...
----
From afar, seeing the giant wolf's figure disappear into the city, Lu Yibei let out a long sigh of relief and raised her hand to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
"Damn, this is too scary. If it caught up, I wouldn't even know how I died," she muttered softly. Just then, Chatterbox Girl's voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
"Don't be happy too early. If it ended like this, it wouldn't be worthy of being a former Extinction-Bringer of Old Days."
"What? It's still not over?"
Lu Yibei exclaimed, then glanced at Jiang Li, confirming that she couldn't hear her conversation with Chatterbox Girl, and continued, "Wait, that's not right! Why are you back? Didn't you say that cutting off contact with me was necessary for the plan to succeed?"
"Tsk!" Chatterbox Girl spat, "Didn't I know you have procrastination, and was worried you wouldn't run fast enough, so I only told you half? To be precise, there's a second half."
"What's the second half?" Lu Yibei pressed.
"The second half is, first cut off contact, and then reconnect after a while for the plan to succeed," Chatterbox Girl said.
"..." Lu Yibei was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "Honestly, what kind of trick are you playing? If you don't tell me clearly, I always feel like you're trying to trick me!"
"Let me tell you, when that big guy was staring at me just now, I felt like I was going to die."
"Hey—!" Chatterbox Girl sighed, "Aren't you usually quite clever? Why can't you figure it out this time?"
"Let me ask you, do you think I am the same person as you?"
Asking such a sensitive question all of a sudden makes it a bit difficult to answer! However... Lu Yibei muttered to herself and shook her head, "No."
In a sense... Lu Yibei muttered.
"Then that's it!"
Hearing this, Lu Yibei exclaimed, "Holy cow! What does the exchange between Chatterbox Girl and Big Boss have to do with Lu Yibei? Is that what you mean?"
"Heh, that's right!" Chatterbox Girl chuckled, "Furthermore, in a sense, I don't exist in this world at all, so the exchange cannot be established. Since the exchange is not established, it should naturally be voided."
"Logically, after the exchange fails, the world's malice that originally belonged to Big Boss should immediately return to him. However, after I completed the exchange, the world's malice on Big Boss briefly came to me. After I cut off contact with you, I delayed this process. Now I have re-established contact..."
Hearing this, Lu Yibei's eyes lit up, and she interrupted, "So, the return process is about to begin, and he should suffer too?"
"That's pretty much it," Chatterbox Girl replied.
However, something is still missing. The mere return of the world's malice cannot harm this Extinction-Bringer of Old Days who has carried malice for many years.
Only when I cut off contact with you and the return process cannot find the original malice, will the disordered "exchange contract" extract certain things from you. Chatterbox Girl muttered to herself.
"But..." Lu Yibei looked at the pitch-black vortex on her chest, "What's going on with this?"
"..."
Yes, yes, this is it!
This thing that might evolve into world malice in the future.
This thing is bad luck for you, but it may not just be simple bad luck for Big Boss.
Chatterbox Girl thought, hesitated for a moment, and decided to tell a small lie, "How would I know that? Don't you know what you've done yourself?"
Lu Yibei, "..."
She couldn't possibly tell her that she was plagued by bad luck, and if she did certain things in the future, this bad luck would evolve into the world's malice, could she?
With her mental fortitude, she would probably be scared into hiding in the Night Watch for the rest of her life.
Chatterbox Girl thought and said in a deep voice to Lu Yibei, "After completing this last task, I'm going to leave soon. A lean camel is bigger than a horse. Before Big Boss is completely finished, there might be a dying struggle. You should be able to handle it if you're careful."
"Also, after I leave, I might be out of contact for ten days to half a month. Be careful during this time and don't court death."
"Huh? Where are you going?" Lu Yibei asked in surprise.
"Damn it, do you think I'm invincible? Of course, I'm going to recover from my injuries!" Chatterbox Girl cursed.
I can barely handle my own affairs! Carrying the world's malice for Big Boss for over an hour is not as simple as one plus one equals two. How could it be that easy?
Muttering to herself, she added earnestly, "Lu Yibei... don't rely on me too much. It won't end well."
"What do you mean it won't end well? Will my account be banned for using a Dailian? Can I get an X-Yue membership instead?" Lu Yibei asked.
No one responded.
It wasn't until the soft sound of hooves hitting the rails echoed in her ears that she realized Chatterbox Girl had indeed left...