Chapter 98: 98. The Shattered Future

98. Chapter 98: The Shattered Future

“This woman’s words alone could bewitch minds and control behavior? What kind of technique is this? Another spell?”

Li Yi shook his head, breaking free from the sensation of being controlled, instantly regaining clarity.

Yet even so, he still felt a strong sense of unease.

If Chen Xiangxi, that cultivator, had attacked me while I was under control, I would have died without a chance to resist—luckily, he feared the Investigation Bureau, or things would have been truly dangerous.

This kid’s mental strength is terrifying—he’s only at the Medium Spirit realm and already broke free of my bewitching spell. He’s a freak, and worse, he fought Chen Xiangxi head-on without yielding an inch.

Xu Qiumei’s eyes narrowed slightly as she began to truly assess Li Yi; as a cultivator who had awakened her spiritual sense, dealing with someone like Li Yi—a novice who had just awakened the Medium Spirit realm—was child’s play, even against those at the Spiritual Perception realm.

Ununderstandable.

And highly illogical.

“Xu Qiumei, Chen Xiangxi, I’m no longer warning you—if you don’t rein in your actions, today I’ll see if you dare kill me too.”

At that moment, Zhang Zhixiong was furious—he never expected these two to be so lawless, and now he no longer cared—he pulled a sniper rifle from his car.

He chambered a round in the Hyperion M200 sniper rifle and immediately aimed at Xu Qiumei, the leader.

“Do you think your gun can hit me?”

Xu Qiumei smiled faintly, dismissive: “I’m one who has awakened spiritual sense. The only one in your Investigation Bureau who can stop me is your team leader, Zhang Lei.”

“I know you’re a spiritual sense expert, but even so, if you’re hit, you’ll die, right?” Zhang Zhixiong took a deep breath, coldly: “Let’s gamble—I might just take you down with me.”

“Take me down? How naive.”

Xu Qiumei didn’t turn her head, letting Zhang Zhixiong aim his gun at her, her gaze locked on Li Yi: “You, however, have caught my attention. You’re unusual—completely different from ordinary Medium Spirit cultivators. Too bad you’re still so weak, with little time to grow. Otherwise, you’d surely become a major figure.”

“Li Yi isn’t ordinary—his cultivation value is 420%, and he’s a top-priority new recruit of our Investigation Bureau. If you lay a hand on him, the entire Bureau won’t let you go.” Zhang Zhixiong issued another warning, trying to intimidate these lawless two.

Cultivation value 420%?

Xu Qiumei paused, then laughed: “So he’s a talent. What a pity. You heard what he said—Tianqing will happen again soon. No matter how talented you are, you’re just a slightly bigger ant. You won’t change a thing.”

“I’m an ant. Then what are you?” Li Yi stared at her: “Your realm is only slightly higher than mine. Under Tianqing, do you think you’ll survive?”

“Hah, well said, Xu Qiumei! You’re not a Cross-Borderer either—after Tianqing, do you really think you’ll escape this world? Don’t be naive. You’re just a hired hand. What value do you have? Are you counting on your figure?” At that moment, the man named Han Fei, clutching his bleeding severed arm, burst into laughter.

His words dripped with mockery.

“Li Yi,” Han Fei glanced at him: “You’ve got guts. Since I’m dead anyway, I’ll tell you one more thing: before Tianqing, if you find the node between the two worlds, you can cross over—even without special methods—and escape this place.”

His words were cut short.

Suddenly.

A shadow flashed before his eyes—so fast even Li Yi couldn’t react.

By the time Li Yi saw clearly, Xu Qiumei had vanished from her spot and stood before Han Fei.

A pale hand, like a steel blade, plunged straight through Han Fei’s heart, piercing clean through his entire body.

“Wah!” A gush of blood erupted as Han Fei’s life force rapidly faded.

Xu Qiumei’s face was icy: “You’re about to die—why say so much useless talk?”

“Pah.”

Han Fei mustered his last breath and spat blood at Xu Qiumei: “Because I refuse to let you selfish bastards live easy. Don’t celebrate too soon—you’ll be discarded too.”

Xu Qiumei didn’t bother listening further—she yanked her bloodied arm free.

Blood sprayed.

Han Fei, a Spiritual Perception cultivator, no matter how resilient his life force, reached his end—falling heavily to the ground, filled with fierce resentment and unfulfilled rage.

Chen Xiangxi hurried over, checking the body.

“He’s dead.”

“Should’ve been dead long ago.” Xu Qiumei flicked the blood from her hand, glancing at Li Yi: “Did you hear what he just said?”

“I heard. Clearly.” Li Yi replied coldly: “So, planning to kill me to silence me?”

Xu Qiumei chuckled lightly: “Don’t worry—I won’t kill you. But forget what you just heard. Spreading it will only bring trouble, no benefit. I know you’re furious now. Fine. When you’re strong enough, come find me for revenge—but hurry. Do it before Tianqing.”

“Chen Xiangxi, let’s go.” She flicked her hair, turned, and strode away with powerful, long legs—no hesitation, no delay.

“Your fist technique is good. Too bad I won’t get a chance to spar with you.” Chen Xiangxi glanced at Li Yi, then at his injured hand, and walked off without looking back.

Li Yi watched them leave, clenching his fists.

If only he were at the same realm—he’d kill both of them right now.

“They’ve finally finished their mission and left. Good thing it didn’t escalate—they didn’t attack you.” Zhang Zhixiong exhaled, finally relaxing.

Li Yi immediately asked: “Who are these two? They don’t even respect the Investigation Bureau, and they dare kill on the street. Just like you said—they’re completely lawless.”

“I don’t know. I was only told to assist them in tracking Han Fei—capture him if possible, kill him if not.” Zhang Zhixiong shook his head: “I suspect it’s tied to the next Tianqing event. Han Fei must know some secret, so they’re controlling him.”

“But none of this is our concern. I’m just a regular investigator in Tianchang City. All I can do is maintain peace in my district. The rest? We leave it to fate.”

“That dead Han Fei said our world is about to end. What does that mean?” Li Yi asked.

Zhang Zhixiong glanced around—everyone nearby had fled from the fight—and lowered his voice: “I’ve only heard rumors—I can’t confirm if they’re true. But the next Tianqing will be catastrophic, severe enough to possibly destroy our world. That’s why Cross-Borderers exist—they’re searching for another world to migrate to.”

Li Yi’s eyes sharply contracted: “They left. What about everyone else?”

Zhang Zhixiong said nothing, only smiled faintly, then gathered Han Fei’s corpse: “I’ve other duties. Li Yi, thanks to you, catching him was easier. I’ll file a report—your Bureau will reward you. Don’t worry.”

Saying this, he hurried off with the body.

Li Yi stood frozen—he hadn’t gotten an answer from Zhang Zhixiong.

But the answer was already obvious.

If such a scenario truly came to pass, many would become discarded pawns, waiting to die alongside this shattered world.

“Damn it. I just came out to cultivate in peace—how did I end up in this nightmare?” Li Yi’s mood was terrible.

Some things are better left unknown—at least then you can keep living with hope.

Now that he knew, money, houses—they meant nothing. What mattered was how he, and his parents, relatives, friends, would survive.

“I only hope that day doesn’t come too soon.”

Li Yi took a deep breath, calming his restless heart.

From Han Fei’s dying words, the next Tianqing might come in one or two years—if luck held.

If he became a Spiritual Perception expert before then, would he gain even a sliver of hope?

Unclear.

Li Yi knew only one thing—he must progress, grow, fast. Otherwise, he couldn’t face the coming crisis.

His thoughts were chaotic.

He stopped thinking further, even had no time to hate Xu Qiumei or Chen Xiangxi—he only wanted to go home and cultivate. Only then would he feel safe.

He hadn’t walked far.

He saw Zheng Lan, the woman he’d saved, still standing nearby—only now daring to show herself after the fight ended.

“Li Yi, are you alright?” Zheng Lan hurried over, concern in her voice.

“I’m fine.” Li Yi’s expression shifted, then he asked quietly: “Zheng Lan, did you hear what the truck driver said?”

Zheng Lan’s face was pale with fear. She glanced around, then nodded slightly: “Tianqing… I know.”

Li Yi immediately covered her mouth: “Don’t tell anyone. They’re clearly trying to suppress this news. Speaking up will only bring danger—and you can’t change anything.”

Zheng Lan nodded.

“Go home. Treat today like nothing happened. Resume normal life and work tomorrow.” Li Yi looked at her seriously, then removed his hand.

“I understand. I won’t say a word.” Zheng Lan bit her lip, suppressing her panic.

She never imagined a simple accident would drag her into something so huge.

“Good. I’m leaving.”

Li Yi said no more, bid farewell, and hurried home.