Chapter 290: The Search
Chapter 290: The Search
Wu Bei followed the strong signal, and as he did, he realized it was a long transmission. Along the way, it seemed to utilize countless Gateway Points as stepping stones, sometimes even looping back on itself.
Not only that, but some areas appeared to have additional setups. Every time he passed through a Gateway Point, he had to proceed with utmost caution, lest he trigger any pre-set alert signals that might have been left behind.
If the other party discovered his pursuit, they might disconnect at any Gateway Point, and he would lose track of them.
However, the longer he searched, the higher the chances of being discovered.
After a while, he said, "Little Brother Chen, the person on the other side is highly skilled, and they have Domain Beasts supporting them. They've set up many precautions and defenses. It might take some time." He sighed, "If only these Gateway Points could be opened for my use, like last time. That would be faster."
He remembered the last time when he faced the Gong family and Xiong Jianyi. The Gateway Points were open for him, and he was confident, even eager for a good fight. Unfortunately, the other party used Domain Interference, preventing him from performing at his best.
Chen Chuan said, "If that's the case, I'll figure something out." He immediately contacted Ni Xixian through the Boundary Vessel, explained the situation, and asked if the Processing Bureau could grant them access to the Gateway Points.
Ni Xixian asked, "Little Brother Chen, can you provide evidence of the attack?"
Chen Chuan replied, "There's a record of Domain Interference and strong signals on the Boundary Vessel the Processing Bureau gave me. It can be traced."
Ni Xixian said, "Good, that's enough. I'll help you figure something out. Give me a moment."
Within just two minutes, Ni Xixian returned, "It's done. Can you handle it? If not, I can find someone at the Bureau to help."
Chen Chuan thanked her, "Thanks, Sister Ni. I should be able to manage here."
"Okay, be careful. Contact me if you need any help."
With this support, Wu Bei felt a surge of energy. Now, instead of having to sneak into each Gateway Point, he could receive assistance.
Before, each Gateway Point felt like a formidable fortress, and he had to bypass the patrols to find traces. But now, they were almost like supply depots, making his pursuit much smoother. Following the trail of signals, it didn't take long for him to track down the source.
Excited, he exclaimed, "Found it!" Then, "Little Brother Chen, I'll send you the location."
A map of Central City appeared on Chen Chuan's Boundary Vessel, with one location marked in red. It was in the Dark Unexplored Zone, and as the map zoomed in, it revealed a spot near a green park.
Central City boasted a high level of greenery, and the Dark Unexplored Zone had the highest concentration. There were several large hills and parks in this area.
Once a favorite spot for the wealthy, it had gradually been replaced by better-developed areas. As a result, these places became gathering points for gangs and criminals. The location in question was on the slope of one of these hills.
After observing for a while, he asked, "So, is this person here?"
Wu Bei explained, "This is just the place where the Domain Field signal originated from. It's the location of their Boundary Vessel, so we can't be certain if they're actually there."
Chen Chuan acknowledged this with a hum. He picked up the Snow Lady Sword and headed out, saying, "It's fine. Finding that place is the first step."
Locating the place was crucial. If the person was there, he could deal with them. Even if they weren't, he could find traces they left behind. At the very least, the Boundary Vessel confirmed their presence, and he could gather many clues.
He left the station, took the electric train, and arrived in the Dark Unexplored Zone within three hours. He exited the station near the marked location.
The area was heavily covered in greenery, with plants growing on walls and overhead. Bright light pillars emerged from the gaps in the dark walls and intertwined vines, crisscrossing under the dark, rainy sky and between buildings. It was like a cage of searchlights.
Here, the colorful lights and ubiquitous advertisements seemed more welcoming.
It was still raining outside, and the wind brought a strong sense of moisture. He put on his rain hat and left the station, wading through puddles towards the marked area. Soon, he arrived at the foot of the dark hill.
Wu Bei's voice sounded in his ear, "The target hasn't moved, but Little Brother Chen, I'm not sure. There seems to be a Domain alert around. If we go straight there, we might trigger it."
Chen Chuan scanned the area and said, "There might be more than that."
Setting up here without any protection would be illogical. Besides Domain alerts, there might be actual traps.
He said, "Little Brother Wu, since the person is highly skilled, to avoid Domain and light interference, I'll have to disconnect the Boundary Vessel and interrupt our communication."
"Okay, be careful."
Wu Bei felt a bit disappointed but understood the necessity. The person on the other side was highly skilled. Even with access to Gateway Points, there was no guarantee of avoiding mistakes.
At this moment, Chen Chuan took out some medications and swallowed them. The actual dosage was minimal, but it appeared as if he took them all, a show for those in the Processing Bureau who might be watching.
Then, he shut off the Boundary Vessel and merged with his Second Self, ascending upward.
After the Second Self transferred the invasion, any domain invasion directed at his body would enter a non-existent place, causing no noticeable domain interaction. Whether this could deceive the other party, he wasn't sure, but it was worth a try, and it could serve as a verification.
Indeed, there were some traps along the way, but to be frank, these traps were no match for his reaction speed. Relying on these alone wouldn't be enough to deal with high-level Fighters; they were probably only useful against ordinary wild beasts.
After avoiding many suspicious places, he arrived at the halfway point of the mountain. There stood a tall and spacious wooden house, built among three large trees. Numerous flexible branches extended into the house, seemingly serving a reinforcing function.
In front of the house's entrance was a long, narrow awning, with a wooden platform constructed from planks. Several crisscrossing lights were installed under the awning, illuminating the wooden platform and the door, which was covered only by a cloth curtain.
At this moment, within the house, Shadow Walker leaned against the wall, his chest covered, and panted heavily. He seemed to have suddenly lost dozens of pounds; beneath his skin, his muscles and skeletal structure were clearly visible. Below him, fresh blood flowed, and his chest and abdomen bore wounds that had been torn open and were gradually healing once again.
The Haunting Tale, having tasted fresh blood and flesh once more, retreated, apparently satisfied again. But he knew that unless the problem was resolved, he would undoubtedly be devoured.
However, after experiencing this twice, he had realized that as long as his internal injuries healed to a certain extent, the Haunting Tale would believe that the sacrificial offering was ready for consumption again.
Therefore, by controlling the healing speed, he could ensure his safety for now.
But he wasn't sure how patient the Haunting Tale was. Based on his understanding and past records, even with this method, he could only delay it by three to five days at most.
So, he had to resolve this problem within three to five days.
He didn't like direct confrontations. His style was all about prior preparation, meticulous planning, and the enjoyment of the final sense of accomplishment, akin to assembling a puzzle, rather than the low-tech, in his opinion, act of brawling.
But now, he had no other choice.
Even with this decision, there was still a headache-inducing issue. The target, having been attacked, was undoubtedly hiding in the Martial Might Academy. How could he complete this task now? Perhaps he could think of a way through the target's relatives or friends? As he pondered, he suddenly sensed unusual movement outside and glanced out warily, "Who's there?"
Outside the house, steady footsteps could be heard. Through the wind-blown curtain, a figure gradually approached, reaching the wooden platform outside the house. The light from above the awning illuminated the tall figure, dressed in a black hooded windbreaker, with a long sword in hand.
A long sword reached inside, slowly pulling back the curtain, and Chen Chuan entered from outside. After he stood still, he looked up and saw numerous vines crisscrossing like tangled wires, all converging at a corner of the house. He immediately spotted the cat statuette placed in the middle of the house.
This confirmed he had found the right target.
He then glanced at Shadow Walker, who had stood up. This man, wearing canvas pants and a torn shirt, had residual wounds on his chest and abdomen, and his entire body was covered in blood.
This man had slender limbs, a slightly hunched posture, pale skin, sunken cheeks, wet hair, and bloodshot eyes. Yet, his tightly wrapped body and well-defined muscular lines revealed his exceptional physical condition.
Chen Chuan raised his hand, pushing back the hood covering his head, revealing a handsome face and a pair of exceptionally bright eyes. Raindrops dripped from his windbreaker.
He politely said, "My apologies for the late-night visit. I hope I haven't disturbed you."
Upon seeing him, Shadow Walker was taken aback. Immediately, he used the Boundary Vessel to scan the man and observe this domain. Amidst his doubts, a surge of joy filled his heart.
He doubted that he had been found because the strong signal he left above had been tracked by the man. The joy came from confirming that the man had come alone.
Now, he didn't need to figure out how to lure the man out of the Martial Might Academy. He could resolve this matter immediately.
In a hoarse voice, he said, "You dare to come here because you once defeated Tan Zhi, giving you confidence, right?"
Although the information from Bell Chime wasn't complete, the incident involving Tan Zhi was too famous, and he could find out about it. So, he didn't hide this from Chen Chuan.
"When you came, you took medication, didn't you? Yes, I can smell it. There's the scent of spilled medicinal powder on you, one of those..."
Shadow Walker's expression confirmed his guess, and he smiled, "But you must understand, the Third Limit and the Third Limit are not the same..."
He reached out, grabbing a long stick leaning against the wall, and spun it. Then, he slowly crouched on one leg, pointing the stick diagonally at Chen Chuan.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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