Chapter 343: Then I Ask You!

The short summer daylight soon dissipated with the passage of time.

After another rain shower, night climbed into the sky, darkness surged like a spring, covering the world, and then, lamp after lamp that didn't belong to the wilderness lit up.

Brightly lit.

Unlike other settlements, Xinquan was even busier and noisier after nightfall. Since the large-scale night market opened, people from many other settlements had rushed over to consume, and the food stalls under the big sheds were almost full.

There were even more people, those who had just received the temporary residence permits issued by the management team and found a place to settle in the pigeon coops, now wandering curiously amidst the bustle.

Squatting next to the street stalls, pointing at pots, pans, or seasonings, or even pornographic films, bargaining with the stall owners.

The scavengers who had just settled their wages drove empty little tricycles, "spending money like water" in front of the food stalls, stir-fried noodles with meat and pork liver, and even dared to add two eggs. The food stalls, which focused on being cheap and good, rose with curling smoke, and amidst the sound of spatulas rubbing, food was served immediately, plus two cups of draft beer mixed with water, all for just one meal ticket from the Coast canteen.

Yes, meal tickets.

Due to the trouble of gold sand inspection and the inconvenience of small transactions, who knew which little smarty-pants at which stall first slapped his head and launched a service that allowed Coast to settle with consumption vouchers and meal tickets for internal employees, and from then on it became popular instantly... and got out of hand.

After all, gold sand could be adulterated, and if you received fake ones, you could only blame your own bad eyes and deserve it, but if the Coast vouchers were fake... hehe, then someone was going to suffer a bit of old suffering!

Moreover, besides Ji Jue, there wasn't a second place in the world that was extravagant enough to use spiritual quality alchemical watermarks that weren't even on small-denomination banknotes to print factory tickets.

This situation, which had violated quite a few acts to a certain extent, soon appeared on a large scale, to the point that after Ji Jue heard about it, he couldn't hold back, flipped through Lu Ling's economics textbook for half the night, and quite a few insane ideas popped into his head...

It was a pity that the scavengers had meager oil and water, and really couldn't squeeze much out.

Had to give up.

But this didn't hinder Ji Jue from responding to the requests of some suppliers, and when settling payments, he took the opportunity to open a small window for the exchange of canteen meal tickets on the opposite side.

Coast's millet rice nourishes people!

And with "currency," the scale of the morning and evening markets became even larger, and it looked even more prosperous.

Almost every day was a big fair.

"Hey, it's almost no different from the suburbs in the city."

In the room behind the window, the peeper lifted the curtain, looking at the corner of the bustling and noisy market, half envious and half jealous, "Coast has made a fortune, right?"

"A corner stall fee is only twenty-five yuan a day, management fee is five yuan, the middle position will be a bit more expensive, but limited, and there is no skimming... like having a pit in the brain."

Wan Wu, who was smoking next to the dining table, sneered: "Counting on this little cheapness to buy people's hearts, thinking too beautifully."

"Oh? Really or fake?" The peeper was surprised: "Isn't this a living saint?"

"This is his brilliance..."

Hearing their topic, the person dozing on the recliner raised one eye and sneered: "At least half of the goods here, whether it's daily necessities or vegetables and meat, come from Coast's channels—things in the city that are near expiration or can't be sold, after turning hands left and right, the price here is at least several times higher."

But besides here, there is nowhere else to spend money... Everyone is working for the guy surnamed Ji!

The wages Coast handed out, before two days had passed, were directly taken back. He didn't even have to pay labor costs, and others still had to be grateful to him, doing their best, fearing that he would suddenly quit one day.

The money was robbed, the reputation was gained, this skill, your boss still has to learn a bit from him!"

For a time, the room fell into silence, setting off the bustle outside the window even more noisily.

Xinquan Restaurant.

The premier large hotel and guesthouse in all of Xinquan, which won the praise of many travelers with its accommodation environment that was worse than a dog's compared to the city and almost non-existent service.

Any scavenger who spent money said—if I had known, I would have just slept on the street.

Unfortunately, this was the only hotel open to the public that could receive outsiders, and it also served as Coast's local hospitality service. Some suppliers or channel merchants could only pinch their noses and sleep for a night, then leave early.

The entire hotel was renovated from the old site of the original Diaomao Hotel, with two floors, more than forty guest rooms, and more than eighty nests of snakes, insects, rats, and ants, each with unique skills, each shocking, and there were also secret weapons in the mattress—twin-tailed beautiful cockroaches—to bring unexpected surprises to the guests.

No one would have thought that the Chosen One who was secretly fueling the situation during the day would actually live here openly under the guise of a channel merchant.

And he had arrived several days early, and even went into Coast's factory area during the day to urge for goods once.

Right amidst the busyness and noise of the night market, the sound of knocking on the door rang out.

There was no agreed-upon secret signal or high-end contact method. The moment the other party went upstairs, they had already been detected by the people in the room. With messy hair, thick fox odor unique to scavengers, and unkempt appearance, the visitor walked in carrying several portions of stir-fried noodles and bottled water, his expression gloomy.

"You guys be careful, the investigation outside is very tight." The bribed local warned: "A lot of people have already been caught."

"Rest assured, we are just here to stock up, we aren't going anywhere, we haven't even stepped out the door."

The peeper originally at the window smiled and pacified: "A small matter, nothing serious, rest assured, rest assured."

Rest assured your X of an X!

The local, who was a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow, originally wanted to say this, but when looking at that pair of eyes containing faint smiles, he couldn't help but relax, a trace of trance flashed in his expression, and then finally settled down.

"Alright, go back." The smiling peeper patted his shoulder to pacify: "Don't worry, problems will all be solved, as long as you keep the secret."

"Keep the secret." The visitor murmured in a trance.

"After going back, just stay quietly, everything as usual. In a few days, find a place where no one is around and hang yourself. Living is so painful, there's no need to continue suffering, right?"

"Painful, suffering... liberation?"

"Right, liberation."

Instruction writing complete.

With a sleepwalking-like smile, the visitor pushed the door and left with light steps, disappearing.

"If you want to be insidious, it's you guys in the Heart Axis who are insidious, 'Wisdom Tooth'." Wan Wu grinned mockingly: "We pirates who have lost our humanity look for people to do things, at least we still pay."

"After paying and finishing, kill them and rob them back?" Wisdom Tooth glanced over: "Is it because of this that fewer and fewer people are willing to cooperate with you?"

"Alright, stop arguing."

The true person in charge, Tie Bo, who was dozing on the chair, raised his eyes and looked over, interrupting the two: "Wan Wu, you stay in the hotel for these two days, don't show your face, and Wisdom Tooth... you went over there during the day, right?"

Tie Bo took off his hat, his eyes turning dangerous: "I don't care what you do, don't drag your feet, don't move again without asking me next time, understand?"

Being looked at with such eyes was like having a wolf's claw on your shoulder in the middle of the night, making one tremble involuntarily, skin crawling.

Wisdom Tooth was speechless, obediently raised his hands, not daring to play any more tricks.

"Very good."

Tie Bo nodded: "Tomor—"

*Snap! *

It seemed like some insignificant cracking sound rang out, where a lightbulb shattered, so that when that sound echoed in everyone's ears, they didn't react.

Only Tie Bo sprang up from the chair suddenly, as if electrocuted, and lunged toward the window without warning.

Sensing killing intent, enhancing intuition... this is Bai Lu's Blessing · Cicada Knowledge!

But at that moment, the instant the bone-chilling evil cold emerged from his heart, it was already too late...

A wisp of silver light emerged from the end of the long street without warning, speeding over. The alchemical bullet that left the chamber of the sniper rifle swirled silently, easily flying past railings and wires, piercing through the entire night market, and after passing through the flickering dim yellow lights and smoke, it chiseled a hole the size of a little finger in the wall like tearing thin paper!

Lightning speed, just an instant.

Tie Bo, who had sprung from the chair, exploded into a cloud of blood. After escaping the fate of his head shattering, one arm had already exploded into rotten mud under the tearing of the silver light.

Then, it was like a thunderclap crossing the sky.

In the pitch-black night sky, a wisp of flame suddenly appeared.

Like a star of steel...

On the sea outside Quancheng, the star rose from the ejection track of the Prosperity on the waves, joined the stars, and overlooked everything.

Then, dragging the scorching tail flame sprayed from the engine, it fell!

Like a meteorite.

In an instant, it broke the speed of sound, one Ma He, two Ma He, three Ma He—

Until the entire experimental airframe also triggered an alarm in this violent acceleration.

"Hoo—"

Amidst the long-lost pleasure and wild laughter, the auditory hallucination of capillaries shattering seemed to ring out, nosebleed seeped out, and the familiar smell of rust filled his lungs.

The corners of his mouth under the oxygen mask curled up, ignoring the stall warning pop-up, overlooking the rapidly enlarging earth, calculating the limit distance like an instinct.

Five kilometers, engine reverse thrust, deceleration.

Three kilometers, No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 steering engines started, angle balance adjustment.

One kilometer, main engine reverse thrust straightened, steering secondary engines closed, No. 1, No. 3, and No. 6 propulsion engines pulled to the max—

Right in this short snap of fingers that even ordinary people could hardly perceive, the power armor echoing with wild laughter dived down. After leaving a silver-bright burning trajectory in the night sky, before hitting the earth, a light turn... with the help of mercury buffer solution, carrying the terrifying G-force that could instantly cause a cerebral hemorrhage in ordinary people, from the side, turned out, drew a forty-five-degree angle, and pierced obliquely into the hotel.

Stirring up a violent hurricane, crushing countless bricks and stones.

Breakthrough!

Iron boots raised, trampling on Wan Wu's stunned face, crushing the floor, crashing into the first floor, and then falling into the basement with irresistible force, smashing the basement floor, and crashing into the soil.

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! *

Amidst the dust flying in countless numbers, the hurricane sprayed out.

Fragments splashed, Wisdom Tooth didn't even have time to scream, and was completely overturned.

"—Refreshing!"

Ignoring the armor's alarm, the ferocious knight, whose whole body was rubbed to a scorching red, lowered his eyes, overlooking the bloody Chosen One at his feet—the life of the ruins was indeed tough!

At the moment of impact, spiritual quality instinctively made a defense, transforming the flesh, and now it was only the chest that was shattered, still able to remain intact. In the past, many high-threat targets, after being kicked like this, would immediately explode on the spot like the local "twin-tailed beautiful girl"!

But it doesn't matter...

"May I ask if you like this electromagnetic charging big stick, this anchor-style armor-piercing gun, or this thermal blade kinetic axe?"

Lu Feng reached out from behind indifferently, pulled out various equipment, and displayed them one by one before those eyes shrinking in terror... It's just a pity that Wan Wu couldn't hear what he was saying at all, his eardrums had already exploded, struggling in vain.

Wanting to move that big foot stepping on his chest away.

His fingers were hissed and scorched.

Opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but could only make a wheezing sound.

"What? You actually like them all?"

Lu Feng was shocked, then shook his head helplessly, revealing a doting smile: "What a little glutton..."

Since that's the case, then I'll give them all to you!

It seemed like hysterical screams rang out.

Amidst the impact and vibration, the dizzy Wisdom Tooth squirmed, climbed up with difficulty, looked around, but could only see collapsed walls and floors.

In the residual echoing loud noises, it seemed like there were familiar sounds.

As if screams and wails, crying and choking, begging.

Mixed with happy and excited laughter.

From under the crack in the floor...

Wisdom Tooth could feel that Wan Wu's consciousness was trembling violently, turbulent, like a candle in the wind, pain and fear gushing out like a fountain, dyeing the whole world scarlet.

But at the source of the scarlet, there was a blood color that surpassed everything gradually rising.

Not burning vigorously, just a few insignificant sparks lit up again after a long silence, but it set off a violent tide that made Wisdom Tooth's skin crawl.

Damn it, damn it, what the hell is that thing!

Even if the consciousness and soul without any defense were close at hand in the induction, and could be acted upon at will... but a certain fear that made him almost unable to breathe rose from his instinct.

Don't touch! Don't touch! Don't touch!

His instinct told him that once touched, there was a result more terrifying than death waiting for him!

Where did this monster come from!

Wisdom Tooth convulsed, used all his strength, braced his body, wanting to escape, unfortunately, it was already too late.

It seemed like someone glanced at him.

Lightly, raised his hand, and then, the gemstone embedded in the ring on his fingertip bloomed with a wisp of faint light... and then, the man-made evil spirit appeared out of thin air, opened its mouth.

Surpassing that rolling turbid flow of scarlet, like a tsunami, sweeping over overwhelmingly!

Resentment, hatred, disgust, pain, suffering, and despair.

He froze on the spot, the final cracking sound emerging in his skull.

*Snap! *

Bleeding from the seven orifices, falling to the ground silently.

Before the soul completely collapsed, the last thing that emerged from despair was a certain indescribable realization.

—So, the real monster is there...

In an instant, among the original three, Wan Wu and Wisdom Tooth had completely lost the ability to resist.

Only Tie Bo, who sensed something wrong at the first moment, chose to flee without hesitation... in a snap of fingers, he had already rushed out of the window, rolled, landed, and ran wildly.

When looking back behind him, he saw the scene of the steel star falling from the sky.

That terrifying radiance and tail trace instantly awakened the deepest nightmare memory in the minds of the Qiandao people... the Federal Iron Cavalry's meteorite-style tactical maneuver!

The Federal army has attacked?! Are they crazy? That's not right...

Where did the Meritorious Iron Cavalry come from!

Countless distracting thoughts echoed in his empty brain in an instant, until the warning of intuition made him brake suddenly, raise his head vigilantly, and look forward.

On the empty street, the streetlights flickered, illuminating the figure waiting there.

Amidst the buzzing sound echoing in the distance, he seemed to still be looking down at his phone.

Raised his head casually and glanced.

"Hmm, I know, remind Feng Ge, leave one alive, don't play too much... also, the repair cost, deduct it from his dividend."

The visitor said slowly: "Count my labor cost too, according to the naval quotation he gave before."

That appearance... the face seen countless times in photos, the burn scars on his face, the pupils like burning embers...

Ji Jue!!!

After the instinctive fear and shock, what surged up was actually a trace of joy.

An artisan, actually unarmed, came before him!

Such a close distance!

He pursed the corners of his mouth, his eyes shining—perhaps the road ahead is unknown, perhaps there are still many traps waiting for him, but, there is still a chance!

Tie Bo bent down slightly, his remaining single arm pressed on the hilt of the knife at his waist.

Slowly pulled it out.

Calm down, focus and endure.

Just one slash...

One slash!

But amidst the still lingering faint buzzing sound, the gaze Ji Jue cast over seemed full of admiration, smiling but not smiling.

"Speaking of which, do you feel your head is sharp?"

Head? Sharp?

Tie Bo was dazed, hard to understand, but in the sultry night wind blowing in his face, for some reason, he felt a chill on his forehead.

Viscous liquid meandered down, fell into the corner of his eye, dyeing the dim world scarlet.

He gripped the hilt of the knife instinctively, but noticed a subtle difference in the feel, it was much lighter. And when he finally lowered his head, he saw the blade that for some reason was only half left.

Even, fine red marks on his five fingers, left arm, chest and abdomen, legs, and neck.

Thousands of threads, intertwined with each other.

Just like...

Knife marks?

*Snap! *

The first piece of scalp fell to the ground.

At the moment of realization, he saw: his body was like frozen meat stuffed into a slicer, falling apart inch by inch...

The weak adhesion between cells and the adsorption force formed by the vacuum in the flat cut surface were broken.

Thus, falling apart.

Turned into fragments of characters all over the ground.

Just like that, amidst the buzzing sound like a vibrating string, he met death.

"Just a little careless... shattered all over the ground."

Ji Jue frowned slightly: "Now it can only be burned to ashes before being used."

Material value, greatly discounted.

Must be careful next time.

From a light sigh, he waved his hand, and instantly, thousands of silver lights gathered from all directions, like spider silk floating in the wind, coiling layer by layer, falling into his hands.

Then, it hardened rapidly, turning into the appearance of a hiking stick, shining with silver light.

【Quality of Gold and Iron】 and 【Form of Ultimate Toughness】!

After using two loose blessings pieced together for so long, Ji Jue finally took advantage of these few days to complete the integration.

Now it's finally not equipment fragments.

The integrated blessings blended and matched each other, as if born that way, able to freely adjust the toughness and hardness of mercury, becoming increasingly handy in fine operation, changing freely.

Thousands of mercury threads had already shrouded the surroundings of the entire hotel before taking action, hiding themselves with the flickering lights and many dead angles of the lights.

For such a long time, people coming and going, no one noticed those mercury threads that were no different from spider silk. Occasional contact had no effect.

Until the real prey took the initiative to send itself to the door, suddenly changing.

Just like that, in the desperate run for his life, the ignorant Bai Lu Chosen One sharpened his head and bumped into the blade, until he cut himself into thousands of pieces.

"Average goods."

Ji Jue overlooked the few broken blessings remaining in the soul, shook his head slowly, and with a flick of his finger, dissociation was complete, leaving only pure spiritual quality sealed by solid alchemy.

Until now, the Golden-Haired Boy waiting quietly in the distance finally summoned the courage to walk up, lower his head, and say: "Ji Ge, the people have arrived, everything is ready."

"Then let's take a look."

Ji Jue laughed: "I also want to know, what exactly is going on."

In the smile, there was an evil chill deeper than the night dew. ===== CHAPTER 344 =====