Chapter 206: 197. Friends Meet

197. Chapter 197: Friends Meet

"The ghosts inside the corpses aren't immune to Earth's energy pollution—they can only resist it briefly once they've reached a certain stage, but after being wounded by my Hanging Spear, their resistance weakens, so they decay rapidly."

Li Yi, holding the Hanging Spear, watched the ghost vanish before summarizing: "So after defeating a corpse, cultivators should keep their distance—avoid getting possessed. The best approach is to retreat or hold off until the ghost's limit is reached and it dissipates naturally."

"But Li Yi, not everyone has a weapon like yours that can harm ghosts," said Zheng Gong.

"Gaze is a form of soul attack—it can suppress them. One person isn't enough, but two, three together can easily eliminate the corpse." Li Yi said.

"Gaze?"

Hearing this, everyone instantly understood—they knew exactly what to do.

That is: after killing a corpse and being attacked by its ghost, use gaze to repel it; as long as you avoid possession, buying time will let them survive safely.

With a method in hand, everyone's confidence returned—they were no longer passive.

"But if corpses are already appearing here, conditions elsewhere must be dire," Lin Yue said, walking over with a frown, her concern rising: "The Heaven's Collapse hasn't even begun, yet Tianchang City is already like this. No wonder everyone wants to cross over—this city, teeming with danger, is no longer fit for ordinary people to live in."

"The situation is deteriorating too fast; cultivators haven't had time to grow. Even if they do grow, they can't match the monsters' pace. The future is bound to be hard—that's why so many want to cross over," Li Yi said.

Now, not just others—he himself wanted to flee to the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

Though ghosts there claim lifespans, at least you won't live in constant fear of death.

"Li Yi, what do we do next? Night's coming soon," Lu Jue asked.

Li Yi thought for a moment, then asked: "Zheng Gong, what's the Investigation Bureau's plan?"

"The Investigation Bureau has finalized their deployment—they're gathering all cultivators from the four cardinal points to storm the old district. The nearest assembly point is to the west; we must arrive by seven and begin the exorcism precisely at 7: 0," Zheng Gong said immediately.

"So little time?" Li Yi's expression changed.

"No choice."

Zheng Gong sighed: "Nightfall is at eight—corpses will swarm the city then, and the abandoned district is already under heavy pressure. Getting even one night to handle this is hard enough. If we delay further, more transcendent creatures might enter Tianchang City."

"Looks like we have no time to waste. Less than half an hour until seven—we must leave now," Lin Yue checked her watch.

Li Yi said: "Then we act now. But Peace Financial Tower can't be left unguarded. Lu Jue, Zhao Xiaoxiao—you two Spirit Medium cultivators stay behind. Don't join this mission—your strength makes you too vulnerable. Among the other Spirit Perception cultivators, leave only one; the rest come with me."

"Won't leaving just one Spirit Perception cultivator be too risky?" Lin Yue asked.

"No choice—we're short-handed. A few are enough for vigilance. If a Soul Awakening corpse appears, more won't help. For ordinary corpses, they can handle themselves. We can't stay here all night," Li Yi said.

"True."

Lin Yue thought, then suddenly realized something—her gaze turned toward the building's first floor.

Li Yi's mother has a serious problem—if danger approaches, she'll likely act. After all, Li Yi's mother is a being that even Lin Yue fears; she still doesn't know what she truly is.

Perhaps.

The most dangerous thing in all of Tianchang City isn't the corpses or transcendent creatures—it's the woman lying in the medical pod.

Yet Li Yi still hasn't realized this.

"Now's not the time to think about this. Li Yi's problem is serious, but it hasn't happened yet. The corpse crisis is immediate," Lin Yue thought to herself.

Everyone agreed with Li Yi's arrangement and immediately began preparing.

Soon, the mission team was assembled.

Li Yi, Lin Yue, Zheng Gong, Yuan Mingjin, plus Fang Hang and Cheng Sifang, two Spirit Perception cultivators.

Six people total.

The remaining Lu Jue, Kong Sheng, Zhao Xiaoxiao, and a cultivator named Wang Feng stayed at Peace Financial Tower—they were responsible for the building's internal and external security, ensuring no corpses breached it during the operation.

After the arrangements were made, the six left without hesitation.

They drove two vehicles straight toward the western assembly point.

During this time, at least five or six helicopters circled above Tianchang City's old district, their searchlights blazing, gradually illuminating the darkening city. In densely packed areas, explosions echoed.

To avoid hindering operations, non-essential buildings were being destroyed.

Clearly, the Investigation Bureau had already begun.

"The old district's terrain is complex, and it hides more than just corpses. Li Yi, I heard from Wang Jian that there are forbidden things there—I fear something unexpected might surface," Zheng Gong said quietly in the car.

Li Yi said: "You know that, and the Investigation Bureau knows it too—that's why they're launching a full purge. They're cleaning not just the obvious filth, but the hidden filth too. By the way, how many bullets did you bring? Don't run out."

"The Equipment Division was lenient this time. Yuan Mingjin and I prepared a hundred special rounds and two boxes of standard rounds—totaling a thousand. More than enough for two sniper rifles," Zheng Gong said.

Yuan Mingjin added: "I also requested an extra sniper rifle—in case one gets lost or damaged."

"Good. But does the Equipment Division only have sniper rifles? Nothing else?" Li Yi asked.

Zheng Gong said: "There are other weapons, but most are useless against these things—they move too fast. Only specially developed transcendent weapons work. For cultivators, sniper rifles are best. Larger weapons aren't practical for individuals—like rocket launchers: powerful, but low hit probability. Hand grenades are useless—the corpse's gone before they explode."

"Weapons with wide damage zones don't pack strong single-target power."

He quickly explained the pros and cons, and realized: against single-target corpses and transcendent creatures, sniper rifles were optimal.

Above that, only mass destruction weapons remained.

"I see," Li Yi thought, finding it logical.

"But the higher-ups are still developing other transcendent weapons. Supposedly, transcendent cold weapons have already appeared—swords, spears, knives—but they're not made of ordinary materials. They're special alloys capable of piercing transcendent defenses and causing heavy damage."

"Transcendent cold weapons?" Li Yi's expression shifted: "Why haven't I seen Investigation Bureau personnel using them?"

"Production is too low, cost too high—they haven't been widely distributed yet. But cultivators from the Golden Academy are reportedly using them," Zheng Gong said.

"Damn, why does everything good go to the Golden Academy?" Fang Hang muttered under his breath.

Zheng Gong said: "No choice. The top cultivators are there, so the best gear goes to them first. After all, they're Earth's future hope. But don't envy them—they bear heavy responsibility along with their privileges."

As they spoke, they arrived at the assembly point.

A field was already filled with vehicles; cultivators poured in from all directions, the area buzzing with activity.

Li Yi's group arrived late.

Their car pulled over, and dozens of eyes turned toward them—each pair glowing faintly in the dim twilight, pressing with silent weight.

The six stepped out; their identities were already known to many cultivators.

"That's Li Yi from the Investigation Bureau, and Lin Yue from the Cultivator Association—the first is Spirit Perception, the second a Soul Awakening expert. Didn't she kill the vagrant Wei Bin barehanded at the Investigation Bureau's training ground?"

"Six people, two snipers? This team isn't weak."

"Li Yi's arm glows—he's using Guidance Technique, but what's that in his hand? A phantom spear?"

"That spear's design is odd—it's called the Hanging Spear, a type of spirit artifact."

Some cultivators quickly checked their records and added: "I heard that in the Danger Zone there's a Ghost Street, where ghost soldiers patrol—those soldiers wield spears just like this. Li Yi went to the Danger Zone—he must've had some fortune."

Every team here had its own network; Li Yi and Lin Yue's backgrounds were quickly uncovered.

Lin Yue spotted familiar faces in the crowd: "That's Zhao Lingfu from the Cultivator Association, and Wu Xiu—they're both Soul Awakening experts. I didn't expect them to form their own teams too—they're clearly vying for Investigation Bureau slots."

She approached them, intending to greet them as old acquaintances.

But Zhao Lingfu and Wu Xiu remained distant, showing no interest in speaking with her.

Lin Yue sensed something unusual.

Finally, Zhao Lingfu whispered: "Lin Yue, your friend Qin Qing is here too—over there."

He pointed.

Qin Qing?

Lin Yue's expression changed as she looked.

Indeed.

A short distance away, a woman with green vertical pupils stood atop a high-rise, gazing at the distant old district—as if studying the terrain.

But Lin Yue's gaze drew Qin Qing's attention.

Soon, Qin Qing turned her head.

Across the distance, their eyes met.

Qin Qing's expression was complex—surprise flickered in her eyes. She hadn't expected Lin Yue to be at this western assembly point.

She hesitated, then swiftly leapt down from the high-rise and hurried back.

"Lin Yue," Qin Qing greeted.

Lin Yue smiled: "Qin Qing, what a coincidence—you're here too. But weren't you still with Yang Yi? I warned you—he's not a good choice. Didn't you suffer enough after returning injured from the Danger Zone? If Li Shaoqing hadn't pressured the Cultivator Association, Yang Yi wouldn't have even treated you."

"No, you're wrong, Lin Yue. Yang Yi has his reasons—he's just short on funds temporarily. He comes from a powerful family, with many obligations. Besides, didn't he eventually arrange the best treatment?" Qin Qing said: "You're the one who should abandon Li Yi. He started too late—he's still only Spirit Perception. Honestly, he doesn't suit you. You deserve someone better."

"To me, Li Yi is the best. He's not as heartless as Yang Yi—he values bonds and knows right from wrong. I admire him, and I believe his future is limitless," Lin Yue said confidently.

Qin Qing said: "Lin Yue, if you keep supporting Li Yi, Yang Yi won't let you go."

"I killed his uncle. No matter what, he won't let me go—it has nothing to do with me supporting Li Yi," Lin Yue said: "As a friend, I'm warning you: leave Yang Yi. Don't be blind. Otherwise, when the reckoning comes, you'll be dragged into it—some things have nothing to do with you."

"Lin Yue, it's too late to say this now," Qin Qing said seriously: "Yang Yi must become a Crosser. I've always supported him. Anyone who stands in his way—I won't spare them. Not even you."

"Huh?"

Lin Yue froze, then frowned: "So you're not just breaking ties with me—you're going to fight us too?"

"Some things must be settled early."

Qin Qing said: "I don't want to reach this point. Just as I urged you to abandon Li Yi, you won't abandon him. If you withdraw from this mission, I can convince Yang Yi to forgive you for killing his uncle. We'll still be friends. When Yang Yi becomes a Crosser, I'll take you with me."

Lin Yue laughed: "You make me wonder—are you heartless or kind? But I can say the same to you: if you leave Yang Yi, when Li Yi becomes a Crosser, I'll have him take you with him. You have no grudge against Li Yi—in fact, when Yang Yi's uncle Yang Ye tried to kill Li Yi, you warned me. So we'll still be friends."

"Lin Yue, I know your nature, and you know mine—we can't change each other. But reality matters," Qin Qing's green pupils flickered toward Li Yi nearby.

"Li Yi is too weak now. What he can do, Yang Yi can do better. And with the realm gap, if they fight, Li Yi will die without doubt."

"This mission is dangerous for you. As a friend, I'll give you one final warning: withdraw from this mission, leave Tianchang City, give up your Crosser slot. Only then will you survive. Otherwise, this old district will be your grave."

She knew that if Yang Yi found an opportunity during the mission, he'd kill Li Yi without hesitation.