Chapter 185

"Chen Long, are you sure you didn't mishear?" a deputy director couldn't help but ask, "I'm not doubting you, but this kind of matter can't be spoken of lightly; if an accident occurs, that would be a big problem."

"It's absolutely true," Chen Long said with confidence he couldn't explain, "You can ask anyone about the Icefield incident; Zi Shu the god is not the type to joke, especially about such a big matter!"

"That's right."

The people present fell into contemplation; they had all read the original Icefield report, and indeed the lone wanderer named Zi Shu had averted a disaster—without him, who knew how that spatial portal would have turned out.

By that logic, the Yinxiang Incense is very likely real!

A few exchanged glances, their expressions gradually turning to ecstatic joy.

Now all high‑level players nationwide are rushing toward the capital with all their might, but the obstacles on the road are countless; aside from a few players already nearby, others are trekking through wilderness, some even getting lost, having to kill themselves to find a revival point before continuing.

At a time like this, if someone could use a teleportation item to send everyone to the capital, the nation's biggest current dilemma would be solved outright.

The formation core in the capital is no longer a simple Task; it now concerns the nation's future fortune, or even without that, it is an item capable of nationwide teleportation, a significance far too great to ignore.

A few exchanged looks and, without words, understood that regardless of whether that player forged the item or obtained it elsewhere, the means of acquisition must be under the state's control.

But immediately they realized that this was absolutely impossible.

Putting aside the fact that the state had already made a decision, no organization or individual may covet the equipment or Skill in a player's hands; their notion was completely mistaken.

Just consider that the god is not one of them but a powerful lone wanderer, leaving them helpless.

Moreover, the player's intention was clear: to first inform the state department, then have the department relay the matter to other forces.

The state learned of this first solely because there was an acquaintance here, coupled with the state's massive influence.

In this situation, if one still tries to claim the item, it's not just ignorance but like a dog biting Lü Dongbin. Moreover, how could one even obtain such an item?

Capture the player named Zi Shu for interrogation, and also imprison the Chen Long who knows something? Not to mention they don't even know each other's true identities, and that forum post on the official game board can't be deleted; perhaps some forces have already gotten the news.

Thus the idea flickered in the few minds and was quickly rejected.

The director of the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department in H City, as if nothing had happened, decisively stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, grabbed his coat, and said while walking out.

"Immediately notify the people in the Information Section; I need to start a video conference with the capital right away."

Soon, via the video conference, the news sparked a brief uproar in the conference room of Iron Blood Great Wall, but it quickly subsided, and they began to discuss exactly how many people should rush to the capital.

Meanwhile, Chen Shicheng had no idea how much turmoil his post had caused, standing shirtless and enjoying a leisurely moment.

Recently he had been toiling in the game, almost forgetting the taste of civilization; now, listening to the traffic outside the window, he felt a hint of nostalgia.

Taking advantage of Hui Siye's trip home to visit relatives, he decided to rest for two days, recharging for the upcoming capital battle.

Time passed like a white horse in a crack, flashing by, and soon the day agreed with Hui Siye arrived. Chen Shicheng made a quick preparation, ate a Bi Gu Dan, immediately logged into the game, and then used Yinxiang Incense to reach the entrance of an underground cavern.

To his surprise, after mentally informing Hui Siye of his arrival, the first person he saw was not Hui Siye but a player named Zhou Jun, who was walking out of the cavern dejected.

"Hm? It's you!"

The moment he saw Chen Shicheng, he glared furiously, staring at him so intensely that if a gaze could kill, Chen Shicheng would already be riddled with wounds.

Seeing the other's murderous stare, Chen Shicheng boredly shook his head and asked casually, "What are you looking at?"

"Looking at you for what? I got this Task first; what right do you have to snatch it?" Zhou Jun pointed at Chen Shicheng, stepped forward two paces, and shouted loudly.

Chen Shicheng frowned, stepped back, dodging the spit flying from the other, feeling a pang of unease.

Zhou Jun assumed his retreat was due to cowardice, instantly puffed up, stepped closer, his fingertip almost poking Chen Shicheng's nose, and said, "Do you know who I am? I advise you to hand over the Task reward, or I'll have someone kill you."

"Whoosh"

Before Zhou Jun could finish speaking, a blade of knife‑like aura flashed and beheaded him outright.

Glancing at the corpse on the ground and the still‑spinning head, Chen Shicheng wordlessly lowered his finger, "Got it!"

This time, Zhou Jun seemed to have learned, as his body did not revive on the spot; the corpse turned into a flash of pure light and vanished, its resurrection location unknown.

Of course Chen Shicheng didn't care, and continued standing there, checking the new Skill in his inventory while waiting for Hui Siye to bid farewell to his clan.

【Compress Earth to an Inch: When you take a step, you can ignore a certain distance of space, instantly moving to the next position; the distance scales with Skill level and cultivation realm, an immortal can traverse a thousand li in a single step.】

"Learn!"

As the jade tablet vanished from the inventory, a new Skill appeared in Chen Shicheng's skill bar.

Unfortunately, his Merit Points are depleted, making it impossible to max out the Skill in the short term; otherwise he'd truly want to experience what a thousand‑li step feels like.

"Kid, let's go."

Just as Chen Shicheng was pondering where to farm Merit Points, Hui Siye flew out of the cavern, landed on his shoulder, and spoke in a somewhat low tone.

"Siye, if you're reluctant to leave, you can stay one more day; just set out before 8 a. m. tomorrow," Chen Shicheng said, looking at the downcast Hui Siye.

"No need, I've said everything that needed saying; staying another day is meaningless. I'll also fetch the promised celestial artifact for you, etc.!"

Hui Siye was only halfway through his sentence when he abruptly looked up toward the nearby woods, "What have you been doing these two days? Over twenty people are surrounding you there, apparently trying to kill you?"

(End of Chapter)