Chapter 67: What are you standing there for?

The high-pitched bell toll that rang out in an instant enveloped the entire city.

When it unceremoniously ate up all the scattered spiritual quality in this Rift Realm in one go, visible ripples of spiritual quality expanded from the bell tower in all directions.

And so, the earth shook and the mountains swayed!

Ji Jue stared blankly as he grabbed the little ox-horse, struggling to maintain stability amidst the tremors, only to see the shattered ruins around him rapidly recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye!

As if time were flowing backward.

Dust danced as it rose, peeled-off stones flew back to their original positions, the disintegrated skylights mended again, and were even more intricate and magnificent than before.

Everything was changing rapidly.

Generally speaking, excellent workshops, in addition to control in various aspects, basically have a complex instruction set gathered from underlying commands covering all aspects.

Over time, with the corrections and additions of generations of Craftsmen, it becomes increasingly complex and changeable, gradually able to handle more complex situations and chaos.

Sometimes, it makes people feel as flexible and changeable as a living thing.

Even more so, going a step further, it is directly endowed with a soul.

Among the legendary workshops in existence, each one has unparalleled achievements in the directions they are good at, and the workshop itself is even a creation composed of multiple Heavenly Crafts!

Now, in this workshop that covers the entire Rift Realm and has experienced four hundred years of wind, frost, rain, and snow, the established instructions have been activated.

The degree of destruction is too high, so it self-repairs!

The workshop will extract scattered spiritual quality, convert all backup energy, and readjust the internal environment of the workshop to the preset values and appearance.

——Reshaping!

It’s just that such a massive scale is... a bit too exaggerated!

Through the strange glass in front of him, Ji Jue could see that time in the entire city seemed to be flowing backward, with countless invisible hands controlling everything, mastering everything, and rebuilding the entire world.

Collapsed high-rise buildings rose from the ground again, shattered corpses mended again, withered and dead plants returned to life, and even the dark clouds above the firmament dissipated without a trace.

The disordered stars returned to their original positions, disappearing along with the night sky, and the dazzling sun shone down.

And at the end of the firmament, the originally broken solemn high tower also seemed to have returned to its original state, blooming with light.

On the streets, people were flowing like weaving again, so noisy.

It was as if a god’s finger had pointed, causing everything that had collapsed to return to its original state.

It’s just... it seemed there was a slight error with the design drawing.

In the four hundred years of time, who knows how many reconstructions and repairs there had been, errors and errors constantly overlapped, and discrepancies and discrepancies constantly magnified, until in the end, it became the scene before them—seemingly normal but extremely bizarre.

The high-rise buildings that should have been straight were twisted; below, it seemed to be a building, but above, it turned into mountains, and there was even a waterfall flowing down. The graceful girl strolling on the street was so beautiful, but she had four eyes on her face, and the third leg behind her buttocks swayed and twitched unintentionally. She was holding something that kept wriggling like a dog.

The road order was orderly, but if you looked closely, there were too many incomprehensible settings and furnishings.

It was as if AI-generated images had become popular in these years; in the peaceful world seen at a glance, there were too many details that made one’s scalp tingle.

"Who, who, who, who are you?"

Beneath the originally collapsed bricks and stones, the broken limbs reorganized again, and when they stood up again, they turned into a man in fine clothes, examining the people who shouldn't have appeared in the mansion: "Le-le-le-leave, otherwise I’m going to call the po-po-po-police—"

On his face, two mouths were speaking in a chaotic manner, but suddenly stopped in place, as if lagging. Incomprehensible words kept popping out, until in the end, as if he had lost his soul, he fell into a daze.

No reaction at all.

"Brother Sphere, what’s going on?" Ji Jue picked up the Ghostwork Sphere.

【Heh, out-of-control error, you know? No one has managed it for hundreds of years, and you still want it to be without a single bug?】

The Ghostwork Sphere mocked: 【The times have changed. In modern alchemy, workshop repairs must introduce correction values and reference blueprints and predetermined drawings... Heaven knows where the problem is.】

It said: 【Hurry up, kid, the opportunity is here!】

The sudden change was something even a blind person could feel.

At this moment, the abnormality of the bell tower had attracted who knows how many outsiders’ attention, and anyone who still had legs was running toward here. They were even faster than Ji Jue and the others.

A few figures leaped a few times and had already arrived around the bell tower.

Seeing that no one else had arrived yet, someone immediately leaped up and lunged directly toward the bell tower... and then, smashed head-on into an invisible wall, and was quickly burned into charcoal by the thunder and fire that erupted from the wall.

Miserable screams and shouts fell along with the dust.

Making who knows how many onlookers’ scalps tingle.

【See that? That’s the end of being stubborn.】

The Ghostwork Sphere sneered: 【Even when people buy jewelry, they know to buy a safe. Do you really think the workshop’s defensive measures don't exist? You kid, learn a lesson, don't touch what you shouldn't, don't feel what you shouldn't, you know?】

The first person who wanted to eat crab died before everyone’s eyes, bringing a brief deterrence, but it couldn't stop the Chosen who had all sorts of methods.

Ji Jue and An Ran lay by the window, eating melon and watching the scene at the bell tower.

Some people directly dragged a few stiff passersby from the street and threw them toward the barrier, and the fire flashed and dissipated. After realizing that any object attempting to approach from high altitude would trigger protection, some quick-witted people plucked up their courage and walked directly from the ground.

Step by step, carefully.

All onlookers subconsciously held their breath.

It wasn't until the moment he touched the door that he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

And then, that person shattered into two halves.

Behind the huge door of the bell tower, a blade as thin as paper slashed down silently, sweeping past... and slashed the smile in half from the center.

Blood gushed out.

"Holy crap, so damn violent!" Ji Jue gasped: "This wasabi-flavored shrimp strip tastes good, Xiao An, want to try?"

"Cucumber-flavored potato chips taste terrible."

An Ran asked carefully: "Can I throw them away?"

"How could there be such a thing?" Ji Jue was shocked and finally remembered Ye Chun, who had sneakily stuffed snacks into his bag before leaving, and was suddenly furious.

You lazy dog, how dare you poison your junior like this?

Once I get out of the Rift Realm, I’ll hand in the thesis I finished rewriting a few days ago! This time, you won't even get a second-author credit! Just wait to hold your assignment that only has three hundred words at the beginning and cry...

Boom!!!

When the bullets and explosives blasted the bell tower’s door into powder, a massive and burly figure slowly emerged from the darkness, and the shadows behind it closed the door.

And the hunched figure shrouded in a black robe slowly unfolded four arms, pulling out knives and swords of different styles. On the blades, there was rust, and they were covered in serrations.

It was as if it had been in disrepair for a long time, and even the ugly and ferocious mask had peeled off and faded.

Faintly exposing the gears and mechanisms behind it.

But its movements were incredibly fast, galloping like a shadow, sweeping across the square. In an instant, the intruders were all left as corpses on the spot, and not even one could resist.

"Boss, this is a tough nut to crack."

Knight Commander of the Homecoming, Slan, gasped: "Are you sure you want to storm it?"

"As of now, there is no other way." Lou Feng squeezed the sound from between his teeth: "I know this request is excessive, but there is no other choice."

"There are already relevant clauses in the contract, I have no opinion."

Slan was silent for a moment and said slowly: "However, given the difficulty of the opponent, I hope you can add an extra portion of reward for this operation."

"I’ll give you double."

Lou Feng answered decisively.

Thus, the two shook hands, and it was settled.

Outside the square, the gathered Homecoming Knights looked at each other, then took off their heavy loads and supplies, quickly putting on heavy armor for each other.

The ghosts and gods of Central Plains mythology were inscribed on that heavy armor, gradually shrouding every inch of skin.

Wisps of scarlet blood energy emerged from the gaps in the armor, lingering and drifting, gathering in one place, actually gradually producing a thick red mist.

Struggle, slaughter, duel, killing, war.

This is the domain of the Great Group.

Following the path of the Great Group is the process of turning oneself into a force of destruction.

The knights loyal to the Red King received the blessings of the Great Group, and war was like bacteria, permeating and spreading, unstoppable. In endless struggles, blood energy and life gathered, inscribed on the glory of the victor.

Dozens of Homecoming Knights were enough to summon the gift of the 【Bacterial Group】.

The horn was blown.

A six-legged giant horse appeared from the void and came obediently to the knights’ side, and they mounted it. And in the knights’ hands, what appeared was an exaggerated spear over nine meters long.

The flag of the Blood State unfurled here, and the Chosen who had destroyed the White State and the White King in the past displayed the power of the Great Group here.

"This victory, sacrifice to the Red King!!!"

Slan’s roar was like thunder, the knight on the giant horse took the lead and charged out, and behind him followed only a dozen or so iron cavalry, but they were as vast as a rushing river.

Fiercely, they challenged the guardian left behind by the Sage.

Amidst the thunderous sound of iron hooves, the iron flow collided with the giant, shadows shook, and blood energy boiled.

Amidst the fierce siege of the knights, the life-and-death war began!

"Do you have to be so exaggerated?"

Behind the window, Ji Jue stared blankly, denouncing the decline of public morals and the change in human hearts—brothers, you can’t gang up on someone!

Especially when he saw that the guard who walked out of the bell tower was actually being faintly suppressed...

Oh no, is it possible that Lou Feng is going to take it down?

Should I... deal a ruthless blow... fire a cold shot?

But the Homecoming Knights were experienced after all. Even when fighting against a strong enemy, several knights still roamed around, vigilant against the attacks hidden in the dark, and even Lou Feng was protected without a leak.

It was a picture of loving drops more than the boss, grabbing both hands and being tough as hell.

Steady and steady, never taking risks.

Professional, too professional...

For a time, with Ji Jue’s shallow experience in sneaking around, he felt a bit numb and couldn't help but sigh: "It seems that now, I’m afraid I can only wait for them to both suffer."

【Huh?】

The Ghostwork Sphere was puzzled: 【Why not just go in directly?】

"Huh?" Ji Jue was confused.

【Just, go in directly!】

The Ghostwork Sphere asked directly: 【Why would people be stupid enough to go head-to-head with defensive programs? You can just go in through the back door, right? Anyway, with me here, the workshop’s detection program can’t find where you are.

Do you really have to wait for Mercury to come alive and open the door to invite you in for a cup of tea just because you don't have an invitation?】

As it spoke, a faint light was released, shrouding the two people and one ox-horse. Along the way, the sphere projected a guiding map, including the hidden entrance on the back of the lighthouse, and a complex identification circuit that made Ji Jue’s eyes dizzy—a fake key disguised as normal permission.

The key is here, and the entrance is marked for you.

It was just short of prying Ji Jue’s legs open and sending him directly in.

【So, what the hell are you still standing there for?】

The Ghostwork Sphere urged: 【Let’s go!】