Chapter 179: I

The Faceless Man said no more idle talk, turned around and led the way ahead.

At the street corner, a pitch‑black sedan had already been waiting silently.

Su Ming flicked his eyelid upward.

In the driver's seat sat a woman.

She wore a qipao, her figure scorching hot.

She was the same woman from last night who had leisurely wiped the bone‑slicing knife with a silk handkerchief.

Su Ming's face showed no discernible expression.

Without a word, he swung open the rear door and stepped inside.

The Faceless Man followed and took the passenger seat.

Bang—!

The door closed.

In the cramped space, the atmosphere solidified.

The woman at the wheel remained silent and started the car.

Su Ming leaned against the back seat, closed his eyes to rest, seemingly unfazed.

But the Eye of Truth had already completed its operation just now!

That knife on the woman's body…

Even that handkerchief!

They're damn Epic‑level props!

Good fellow!

A driver dressed head‑to‑toe in Epic gear?

If we don't snatch a round now, it feels like we'd be cheating ourselves on this outing, right?!

The car threaded its way through the streets of Jin City.

Eventually, it entered a long‑abandoned old district.

Screech—!

The sedan slowed to a halt before a dilapidated building.

Su Ming opened his eyes.

He saw the building's full outline.

Large sections of the wall's plaster had peeled away, exposing red bricks inside, and most of the windows' glass was shattered.

Only the dust‑covered plaque above the entrance still faintly displayed three grand characters of soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes.

Shu Music Hall!

It is a…

abandoned old Sichuan opera theater.

Su Ming pushed the door open and stepped out.

A scent mingling dust and aged wood rushed to his nose.

Yet beneath that odor, he also detected a hint…

extremely subtle, yet unmistakably familiar.

Oil paint!

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat.

He lifted his head, gazing at the pitch‑black theater entrance, his eyes turning somewhat distant.

He had been to a theater himself.

When he was young, his father had also taken him to a theater…

But now!

What he felt was less nostalgia.

and more a recollection of something!

On the night before Mid‑Autumn, that abandoned open‑air theater…

also carried that oil‑paint smell!

There, he heard three intertwining vocal lines!

He saw three bizarre altars!

Altar No.: 1001

Connection Signpost: Zhutian Drama Workshop·White Tiger Hall

Altar No.: 1003

Connection Signpost: Zhutian Drama Workshop·Changmen Palace

Altar No.: 1004

Connection Signpost: Zhutian Drama Workshop·All-Beings' Countenance

Sheng, Dan, Clown!

Scene after scene flashed rapidly through Su Ming's mind.

Western Shu Rogue…

Shu Music Hall…

Zhutian Drama Workshop…

His expression remained unchanged, yet his heart roiled with waves.

Coincidence?

Not really!

But…

Why specifically the theater?

Why are these entertainers so powerful and so unpredictable in their actions?

They really must be from over there?!

But if these people truly come from another plane, how did they get here?

What is their purpose?

Looking for themselves, and is that a coincidence?!

The mysteries inside are indeed hard to explain!

"Please."

The Faceless Man seemed unaware of Su Ming's change of mood.

He just turned sideways and made a "please" gesture.

Su Ming withdrew his thoughts and stepped forward.

The interior of the theater was more spacious and dilapidated than imagined.

Rows of red seats, thickly coated with dust, stood like tombstones.

In the air, the lilting singing and drum sounds seemed to still echo.

And that abandoned theater under the moonlight that day…

It looks even more like it!

The three of them said nothing.

Footsteps sounded especially clear in the spacious hall.

They passed through the Audience seats and walked straight toward the massive stage.

On the stage, there was nothing.

Only the old curtain painted with landscapes swayed slightly in the draft.

"Where we are, there is a Rule."

The Faceless Man finally spoke, his voice echoing faintly in the empty theater.

"A play must be on stage to be sung."

"The opening also must be taken by someone capable."

He paused briefly, and that faceless visage turned toward Su Ming.

"The grand gift we prepared for you is right here on this stage."

His words fell.

He slowly raised his hand toward the center of the stage and snapped his fingers lightly.

Snap—!

In the next moment, a faint light ignited at the exact center of the stage.

The glow was not dazzling; instead it was incredibly gentle, coalescing into a sphere that rotated slowly.

Su Ming squinted his eyes.

Eye of Truth, activate!

He clearly saw that within the light sphere floated an object.

It was a belt!

A jade belt, entirely jet black, embroidered with mountain and river, dragon and python patterns in scarlet gold thread!

At the center of the jade belt was set an unknown black square jade…

"Huh…"

Su Ming's breathing grew increasingly rapid.

Because he clearly felt that his Dimensional Reduction Warehouse's Lingren Score was resonating wildly!

It's the same set!

It's another Pure Series Items piece!

These Western Shu Ruffians…

Sure enough, they are inseparable from the Zhutian Drama Workshop!

"This is the Mountain River Suppressing Jade Belt."

The Faceless Man's voice rose gently, carrying a hint of enchantment.

"It is our… gift presented to the prospective Judge as a meeting offering."

Judge?!

Su Ming was slightly startled.

"That night, your Orphan's Hate performance was sung very well."

In the Faceless Man's voice, a hint of frenzy had somehow emerged!

"We heard it all."

"So…"

"We would like to ask you to perform another piece."

He slowly spread his arms.

As if embracing the entire stage!

Embrace the whole world!

On that faceless face, a mad Smile Mask seemed to appear.

Excitement!

Drunk?

Indulge!

"If you sing well..."

"Then we 【Western Shu Madmen】..."

"Willing to be your troupe, to take the stage for you, waving flags and shouting!"

"For you..."

"Kill all who refuse to watch the play!"