Chapter 276: Special Compensation

With a flash of light before his eyes, Wu Chang returned to his room.

He sat on the bed and rubbed his cheeks hard, recalling the information he had just heard—if he hadn't been certain he remained fully awake the whole time, he would have thought it a nightmare.

The worst kind possible.

He pulled out the Omniscient Crystal, stared at its dimmed surface, and let out a bitter smile.

The Omniscient Crystal's "Revelation" ability far exceeded his expectations.

He had thought saving Xu Dejun would yield only a few clues, but he ended up hearing an entire long string of secrets about the Abyss Game.

Sometimes, too great a reward isn't a good thing.

After organizing his thoughts, Wu Chang left his room to bid He Yun farewell.

The Evolutionists have sparked civil war in the Rational Realm; it won't be long before they move against the Wasteland Realm. Every second his intelligence reaches the Juzhixu Sect, they gain one more second to prepare.

Right now, He Yun's eyes were fixed only on those research logs and had no attention for him; staying longer in the underground shelter would only make him He Yi's punching bag.

Arriving at the lab, he saw He Yun standing before the console, continuing to decipher its contents.

Hearing the lab door open, He Yun turned to Wu Chang and asked, puzzled, "Why are you back?"

Wu Chang had no reason to hide the Abyss-related intelligence from He Yun; as the smartest person beside him, He Yun could only make correct decisions if fully aware of all the information.

He Yun's comprehension was strong; after Wu Chang briefly described everything, she asked targeted questions and immediately grasped his current situation—and the unspoken words he hadn't said.

He was leaving.

A flicker of regret passed through He Yun's eyes, but she made no attempt to stop him. Instead, she took Wu Chang's hand and led him to the manufacturing station at the back of the lab, handing him the modified Dawn's Weight Hammer.

The modified Dawn's Weight Hammer retained its exaggerated revolver appearance, but its cylinder—once requiring bullet loading—had become a fully sealed energy chamber, increasing its capacity from eight to twelve rounds.

The gun body had grown larger overall, yet its caliber had been reduced, from 0.7 back to 0.45.

The gun body, redesigned by He Yun, radiated high-tech aesthetics while preserving the revolver's raw, brutal character—clearly the product of meticulous design.

As Wu Chang handled the Dawn's Weight Hammer, he spotted He Yun's signature beneath the grip.

"Item Name: Dawn's Weight Hammer"

"Item Tier: B"

"Item Type: Exclusive Item (Authorized for Player 4444444 only)"

"Item Skill: High-Energy Beam · Modified."

"Skill Description: The Dawn's Weight Hammer absorbs ambient energy to charge its energy chamber's high-energy beams. When special energy exists in the air, it can bind that energy to the high-energy beam."

"High-Energy Beam: A fusion of mysticism and science. Damage against non-human targets increased by 50%. Automatically generates one high-energy beam every three hours. Can also consume five energy points to instantly reload one high-energy beam. Current high-energy beam count: 12/12."

"Item Skill: Full-Domain Countermeasure Module"

"Item Description: To counter various target types, the Dawn's Weight Hammer analyzes target data and automatically adjusts caliber to optimize penetration, blast radius, and rate of fire. After modification, the Dawn's Weight Hammer can switch between three modes: Energy Charging, Fire Suppression, and Annihilation."

"Note: The Dawn's Weight Hammer is a customized gear for Player 4444444, infused with the maker He Yun's affection. Others cannot use it."

Wu Chang skimmed over the Energy Charging and Fire Suppression modes, but when he saw the final Annihilation mode, his eyes widened.

"Annihilation Mode: Merges all high-energy beams in the chamber into a single blast, delivering an annihilating strike. After use, the Dawn's Weight Hammer will suffer temporary damage and must be professionally repaired by its maker to be used again. Repair duration: one plane; Skill cooldown: two planes."

Judging by its modified stats, the Dawn's Weight Hammer was no longer inferior to an A-tier item, especially with the Annihilation Mode granting it the ability to turn the tide in desperate situations.

In practicality, many A-tier items couldn't compare to the Dawn's Weight Hammer.

Such an overpowered stat sheet came from its Exclusive Item classification and He Yun's reckless investment in materials and technology.

Wu Chang glanced again at the note on the Dawn's Weight Hammer and turned his head just as his gaze met He Yun's.

He Yun asked, "Are you satisfied?"

Wu Chang nodded firmly. Every value—utility and emotional—was maximized. He had no reason to be dissatisfied.

"I love it."

He Yun pushed Wu Chang's chest, pinning the unenhanced Wu Chang against the console, and kissed him passionately.

Minutes later, He Yun lifted her head and smiled at Wu Chang. "I won't see you off. Stay safe on the way."

Returning from Underground Shelter 88 to reality, Wu Chang's physical body stayed behind to explain the situation to Ai Lin, while his True Self headed straight for the airport and boarded the nearest flight to Yanjing.

Of course, he didn't need to buy tickets or register—he simply used his social anxiety and Elite Stealth to glide past checkpoints and slip onto the plane unnoticed among the crowd.

After landing, he took a taxi straight to the address Xu Dejun had given him.

Yanjing was the capital of Xia Nation, home to the Administration's headquarters and the Juzhixu Sect's stronghold.

In contrast, the Evolutionists' central hub lay in Shenjiang.

Regardless of his identity, Yanjing's defense standards far surpassed those of any other city. As the plane approached Yanjing's airspace, Wu Chang could look down and see a massive mystic array.

Within the grand array were nested seventeen medium arrays and 166 small arrays, each like a gear, interconnected to form a precise, colossal marvel.

In terms of array tier and complexity, even the Celestial Realm couldn't match it.

The array's effects were diverse—combining defense, offense, reconnaissance, and early warning—and it was linked to the Red Wave Space, granting nearly limitless energy support.

The array had virtually no blind spots; any transcendent entering it would be instantly exposed to its surveillance, with nowhere to hide.

If fully activated, even a Complete Form Joy could not break through it head-on.

This was the foundation of the Four Organizations.

Yet the defense array wasn't invincible—Wu Chang's Mysticism Mastery and the Eye of Breaking Spells were its perfect counter.

Before landing, Wu Chang had already cracked the core structure of the defense array and, based on its principles, constructed a counter-surveillance array around himself, ensuring that even as he walked into the array's core, he would be perceived as part of its normal operation, triggering no alarms.

Moreover, by understanding the array's principles, he had partially taken control of it; within a five-kilometer radius, the defense array had become his eyes.

On the taxi ride to his destination, Wu Chang observed Yanjing's condition.

Unlike the second-tier city Wanghai, every move in Yanjing was amplified infinitely; wild transcendants couldn't be left to grow freely as in Wanghai, then dealt with after they caused trouble.

In Yanjing, he frequently saw plainclothes Administration members on busy streets; their overall strength was immense—any single plainclothes agent, dropped into Wanghai, would be at least a Director.

Yet these powerful players moved with unusually tense spirits—not as if guarding against wild transcendants, but as if wary of something far more dangerous.

It seemed the Wasteland Realm's headquarters hadn't reacted too slowly—the severing of ties with the Rational Realm had already alerted them to the wind.

Wu Chang got off the vehicle three streets away from the target location. He first entered a mall restroom, locked himself in a stall, and set up a remote teleportation array, then activated his skill to arrive at his destination.

The address Xu Dejun gave him led to a private club. The club was hidden in an unremarkable alley, externally indistinguishable from an ordinary siheyuan—extremely low-key; even if an ordinary person passed by daily, they wouldn't spare it a second glance.

Arriving at the alley entrance, Wu Chang deactivated his skill and knocked on the door to alert those inside that he had arrived.

Then he pulled out the metal card Xu Dejun had given him and waved it in front of the camera.

After thirty seconds, the courtyard gate opened, revealing a young man standing straight-backed behind it, gesturing for him to enter.

Only one young man stood behind the gate, but Wu Chang's defense array detected that at least twenty max-level players had already locked onto him.

Some of them specialized in stealth and sniping, positioned over three thousand meters away—so far even his high-level intuition struggled to sense them, yet they could hide from people, not from the defense array.

Wu Chang followed the young man into the siheyuan. The compound was a three-court layout; passing through corridors and gardens, they arrived at the main hall, where a middle-aged man, roughly Xu Dejun's age, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at him.

The man spoke first: "Friend, where did you obtain this metal card?"

Wu Chang tossed the metal card toward the middle-aged man and said:

"I couldn't sleep, took a walk, and happened to save someone. He asked me to deliver this. I gave in to pity and agreed. The item's delivered—I'm leaving now."

!

The middle-aged man caught the card, saw the message left by Xu Dejun, and his expression turned solemn.

He knew the situation was urgent, but he didn't rush to check its contents. Instead, he asked Wu Chang:

"Where are you from?"

Someone who could casually save Xu Dejun must be a top-tier player in the Rational Realm. Even under normal circumstances, such a player would need great effort and considerable risk to return to reality—only members of the Four Major Organizations could manage it.

With the Wasteland Realm and Rational Realm's communications severed, encountering a visitor from the Rational Realm was rare. He certainly couldn't let this one go lightly.

Wu Chang caught the man's implication and replied casually: "I'm from nowhere. My name is He Ping."

The instant he announced his name, the hidden Bureau members' hearts skipped a beat. Silence fell around them.

What the hell? He Ping—that monster known as the Little Painter, whom the Four Major Organizations had declared war on?

Letting such a dangerous person into the Bureau's core area? That's like bringing the Mei Xi Sect to Loli Island—wouldn't he go berserk?

The air froze. Before, the glances at Wu Chang had been merely surveillance; now, dozens of skills were charging, the defense array ready to activate at any moment.

After a brief silence, the middle-aged man broke the awkwardness with a hollow laugh: "Truly, heroes emerge in youth. Compared to young talents like you, us old bones feel left behind by the times."

Wu Chang shrugged. "Not at all. When you jointly issued your declaration of war, you seemed pretty up-to-date with trends."

Wu Chang shrugged and replied, "Not at all. When you all jointly issued your declaration of war, weren't you quite the trendsetters?"

Dead silence.

Even with his vast experience, the middle-aged man couldn't respond.

If you're going to talk like this, there's no point in talking at all.

But not being able to answer isn't a problem—the other advantage of experience is knowing when to pretend ignorance.

The middle-aged man smiled: "Today's youth are so humorous. Lord He Ping saved Old Xu and traveled thousands of miles to deliver this intelligence. The Bureau must show its appreciation."

"Lord He Ping, you challenge dungeons alone, unaffiliated with any organization—admirably free-spirited. But when gathering gear or materials, organizations always have advantages over solo players. If you have any needs, speak freely—I'll do my best to fulfill them, and perhaps clear up the misunderstandings between us."

As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. He'd already offered payment—Wu Chang wouldn't dare insult him outright.

Hearing the offer of reward, Wu Chang hesitated.

But after a few breaths, the hesitation vanished from his eyes. He said:

"The reward I want—you're sure you can give it?"

The middle-aged man paused, his expression unchanged, but his heart tightened.

Damn, this kid isn't going to ask for a piece of the Bureau's flesh, is he?

But the words were already out. And whether it was saving Xu Dejun, delivering precious intelligence, or gaining the friendship of this new monster—He Ping—each held immense value.

Might as well bite the bullet. Eat the food, soften your stance—the harder you bite, the easier it'll be to deal with you later.

The middle-aged man shrugged indifferently: "Confirmed."

Wu Chang paused. "I recorded it."

The middle-aged man sighed. "I, Hou Jingchuan, have some weight in the Bureau. Speak your demand."

Wu Chang's expression changed instantly. He smiled: "My request is simple. I want to appear on 'Every Topic' live broadcast—and the stream must run uninterrupted, fully aired."

"Surely the Bureau can manage such a small request."

Hou Jingchuan's heart dropped. Honestly, he'd rather He Ping demanded a lion's share—a few A-rank items, even five—he'd grit his teeth and agree.

But asking to appear on 'Every Topic' with no interruptions? That gave him pause.

Precisely—if the Four Major Organizations mended ties with Wu Chang, and 'Every Topic' sought him out for ratings, he wouldn't mind.

But Wu Chang demanding to appear on 'Every Topic'? That left him with no confidence.

Who knew what kind of chaos Wu Chang would stir up?

Hou Jingchuan hesitated, then gritted his teeth and agreed: "Fine. I'll agree. When?"

Wu Chang answered immediately: "Now! I want to be interviewed in the first segment of the show."

Ten minutes remained until 'Every Topic' went live—perfect timing.

Having made the promise, overthinking what Wu Chang might say was pointless. Hou Jingchuan, half-giving-up, said: "Alright. Leave your contact. Enter Crimson Courtyard now—'Every Topic' staff will reach out shortly."

Wu Chang smiled: "Mr. Hou, you're truly a big shot of the Bureau—so decisive."

"I've other matters to attend to. Won't keep you. Though we had misunderstandings before, they're trivial. If you ever need help with the Light Society, Mr. Hou, feel free to contact me. Friends, after all—we can negotiate prices."

Wu Chang finished speaking and immediately activated the long-range teleportation array, vanishing before the Bureau members' eyes.

Watching Wu Chang disappear, Hou Jingchuan's calm vanished. He frowned.

From Wu Chang's final words, it was clear Wu Chang knew far more than he'd assumed.

He looked at the metal card and said to the young man who had let Wu Chang in:

He looked at the metal piece in his hand and said to the young man who had earlier led Wu Chang inside:

"Everyone, stop what you're doing and gather for a meeting. Full attendance is mandatory. Now, immediately!"

Old Xu, Old Xu, I hope you didn't say anything you shouldn't have to that Peace fellow. I know you wanted to take the chance to pull him in to help, but that guy seems about to cause a huge disaster before he even lends a hand.

(End of this chapter)