Chapter 530: The Anomaly
Chapter 530: The Anomaly
On the outskirts of the Fode District in Central City, abandoned skyscrapers and dilapidated streets were everywhere, and now a swarm of insects was heading towards this place.
This was the territory of the Skeleton Gang, where a large number of anomalous algae effectively interfered with the Hive Mother's field, and it was also a low-lying area with perennial waterlogging, so it was almost defenseless against alien organisms.
After this swarm of insects arrived, numerous Skeleton Gang members emerged from abandoned cars and hollow buildings, witnessing the insects flying in.
Then, they landed on the vines hanging from the ruins of the building and the surrounding trees, where they quickly built nests, and soon, some insects were undergoing a rapid metamorphosis.
The gang members stared with bloodshot eyes, but one of the leaders became excited, waving his hand behind him, "Bring out the stuff."
The gang members quickly handed him a metal can, which he hung around his neck, and then climbed the tree swiftly.
He didn't care about the insects' bites and peered into the insect nest, seeing a plump insect wriggling inside. He grinned, clamped his legs around the tree trunk, and then poured the metal can into his palm, revealing chunks of faintly glowing phosphorescence.
If Lao Qi were here, he would have recognized these as the same ones he had purchased in Yangzhi and resold here.
The leader sprinkled these into the insect nest, waited for a while, saw that the insects seemed to have slightly inflated, grinned, quickly climbed down, and then went to another tree and did the same thing.
Just half an hour later, around the insect nest where the first batch of debris was scattered, green-red cocoons began to appear, like bubbles rising, densely covering the nearby walls and tree trunks.
As this phenomenon gradually increased, the gang members below showed infinite anticipation in their eyes.
Ink Stain Mountain, Cao Guixi, was sitting in the courtyard of the estate, beneath falling peach blossoms, copying ancient calligraphy from a joss-scented wood desk.
Just then, a bug fell from above with a snap, landing on the clean paper and leaving a trace of filth. He flicked it away with his sleeve, brushing the bug onto the ground.
After finishing the last character, he put down his brush, glanced upwards, and saw scattered bugs coiling around the swaying treetops. "It seems some have slipped through," he said.
Uncle Ding, standing beside him, said: "Young Master, just a few, the estate's field creature's field has been opened, and medicine is being spread around. There won't be too many of them."
Cao Guixi looked into the distance, where a hovering airship above sprayed sheets of medicine towards the ground. "It's been half a month already, hasn't it?" he said.
Uncle Ding bowed and said, "Young Master, don't worry. The estate has sufficient supplies for three months of consumption, and no matter what the situation, it should be over by then. Moreover, the Administrative Bureau has strengthened the security of Ink Stain Mountain these days, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Cao Guixi neither agreed nor disagreed, only saying, "Did those people come again yesterday?"
Uncle Ding replied, "Yes, they came again, but they refuse to leave. They insist on meeting you and say that you'll regret it if you don't see them. Do you want me to drive them away, Young Master?"
Cao Guixi looked at the falling petals and said, "Don't bother with them. The old era is long gone. Those who can't let go will eventually be swept away by the new era's waves."
Undercity.
Lu Ke slapped a bug against the car window with a snap, grumbling, "What is this thing? Why are there so many of them?"
He looked up at the glowing sun vines above, surrounded by a dense swarm of buzzing insects, or remain silent? Your next action is crucial.
Outside the Ying Lu District, on a ship at sea, Gong Ying Changxiu was practicing sword techniques on the spacious deck, with Guan Shangjing and a group of Wind Forest Pavilion disciples in the distance.
Because members of the Secret Teaching Inspection Bureau had been stationed in the Ferris Wheel Company for a long time and had not yet withdrawn, the foreign martial artists had to be arranged on the sea as they couldn't stay in the company during their operations.
As Gong Ying Changxiu wielded his sword, his peripheral vision caught a swarm of tiny insects approaching, resembling a cloud of bugs. The insects passed through the crowd of disciples, eliciting a chorus of curses.
When the insects drew near, Gong Ying Changxiu effortlessly waved his sword, creating a gust of wind that swept the insects away. They spiraled in the air before exiting the ship, and then, as if nothing had happened, they resumed their buzzing flight.
But after a few moments of flight, the insects suddenly exploded mid-air, spraying out their internal tissues. In that instant, a long stretch of fog seemed to explode along the side of the ship, covering the sea.
This was the Windforest Academy's secret technique, "Wind Chant Slash." With a single slash, the power of the wind attached itself to the enemy, and then, in the next moment, it erupted, demonstrating a skill that combined both psychic and physical prowess. It allowed one to strike down enemies in an invisible manner, leaving the audience in awe.
Guan Shangjing, witnessing this display, was amazed. While the disciples marveled at the power and destructive force of the sword technique, he noticed Gong Ying Changxiu's exquisite control over the power of the wind. The insects that were slashed were precisely controlled, numbering exactly three thousand, not one more or less.
Guan Shangjing thought to himself, "Gong Ying Changxiu must have received permission from his master to enter the 'Ghost Gate'."
The Ghost Gate was a rift passed down through generations in the Windforest Academy, said to be located deep within the ocean. It was believed that only after one's body and spirit reached a certain level of cultivation could they enter this realm.
Guan Shangjing had heard that the beings on the other side of the rift had a centuries-old entanglement with the Windforest Academy, coexisting and merging as one. Although it was a dangerous place, it was said to be a highly efficient environment for spiritual cultivation, where one could learn and comprehend the various secrets passed down by the Windforest Academy's ancestors.
However, despite the Windforest Academy's rich heritage, it was, after all, a remnant of the old era. In the new age, only those with powerful Active Consciousness could grasp the future.
At that moment, Gong Ying Changxiu suddenly stopped. He turned to the disciples of the Windforest Academy standing by, pointing his sword at one of them.
"You, come here. I will bestow upon you the 'Wind Chant Slash' in its imprint form."
The chosen disciple's face lit up with excitement. He bowed deeply and ran forward, while the other disciples behind him expressed envy.
As the disciple reached Gong Ying Changxiu, he immediately kneeled, then raised his head towards the direction of the sea.
Gong Ying Changxiu slowly raised his sword, paused for a moment, and then brought it down. The tip of the sword precisely struck the disciple's forehead, causing him to tremble violently as a look of bewilderment appeared in his eyes.
After a moment, the disciple regained his senses. He quickly moved back on his knees, then deeply bowed, shouting with all his might, "Thank you, Master Gong Ying, for bestowing the imprint!"
Gong Ying Changxiu shook his sword and slowly sheathed it. He then walked towards Guan Shangjing, and the disciples on both sides respectfully made way.
Guan Shangjing approached and followed alongside him, saying, "Master Gong Ying, although the challenge letter was delivered by Master Hui Shi Lang, an unexpected incident occurred, and it was intercepted by the Three Cities Wilderness."
"The Three Cities Wilderness of the Wave Tide Pavilion?"
Gong Ying Changxiu showed interest. "So, he took that strike?"
Guan Shangjing nodded. "Yes, Master Gong Ying. This Three Cities Wilderness seems to have forgotten his place."
Gong Ying Changxiu waved his hand. "The actions of heroes cannot be compared to those of ordinary people." With the Three Cities Wilderness intervening, this battle has become even more suspenseful.
"Should I send another challenge letter?"
Gong Ying Changxiu shook his head. "No need. Master Chen should already know of my arrival, so let's keep some suspense for this battle, right... hmm?"
He suddenly looked out to sea, having just caught a glimpse of a fleeting flash of light.
Guan Shangjing's expression turned serious.
The disciples did not notice this anomaly, but as a Third-Class Fighter, Guan Shangjing could see it clearly. It wasn't a flash of lightning; it was a rift created by the collision of two worlds, albeit only for an instant.
He understood that the Hive Mother must have become unstable. The situation was about to change within the next few days, and after that, the crucial moment for the future of the Windforest Academy would arrive.
Inside the Palace Tower dormitory, Chen Chuan sat on the sofa, carefully polishing the Snow Lady Saber with a cloth.
With each battle, this sword seemed to absorb something from the enemy's weapons, making it even more resilient and sharp.
In recent confrontations, if it clashed with another weapon, it could always cut through the opponent's blade.
This was likely due to something absorbed from Xiong Jianyi.
But Chen Chuan didn't know what it was, even now.
However, he wasn't overly concerned. The sword was in his hands, and he had control over it. If there were any further changes, they would be observable. As he finished polishing the sword and held it in his hand, a flash of light suddenly appeared outside the window, like a lightning strike.
He paused, looked outside, and then saw similar flashes in the sky above. He immediately identified what it was and thought to himself, "It seems it's almost here."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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