Chapter 395: Void Merchant

"We must stop these transactions," Lin Xuan said firmly, "at the same time, we need to shift our strategy; we cannot just remain on the defensive. I will head to the city center to establish a Wood Origin Perception Network to detect all lurking Void Creatures."

Zhou Zhuo nodded: "We will provide support."

After leaving Gugong, Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan arrived at the Beijing Central Business District. Here, skyscrapers stood like a forest, and the flow of people was like a weave; it was a symbol of modern civilization and also the place where modern urban energy was most active.

Lin Xuan chose the roof of the tallest skyscraper, sat cross-legged, and began to channel Wood Element Energy. At the same time, Xiao Yuan set up Five Elements Resonance Points around the building to enhance Lin Xuan's perception range.

As the Wood Element Energy spread, Lin Xuan's consciousness flowed through the entire city like mercury. He perceived every tree, every blade of grass, and even the green plants in the residents' homes. Through these plants, he began to construct a perception network covering the whole city.

Soon, anomalies appeared in his perception—inside a building in the Jinrong Zhongxin, a strange meeting was taking place; in a certain luxury underground club, a group of powerful figures was listening to a "consultant's" explanation; in the laboratories of several universities, researchers were studying a black-purple "new material"...

Lin Xuan opened his eyes abruptly: "The Void Erosion is already much deeper than we imagined!"

Just then, his communicator rang; it was an urgent message from Li Yan in South America: "Lin Xuan, Yage has appeared in Rio de Janeiro! He is giving a public speech, broadcast globally via livestream, and the content is extremely bewitching; thousands of people have already gathered around him!"

Lin Xuan quickly pulled up the global news channel and sure enough saw Yage standing in a plaza in Rio de Janeiro. Although his appearance still maintained a human form, the Void Energy in his eyes was clearly visible.

"... This world is already rotten, human society is full of inequality and suffering; what the Void brings is not destruction, but liberation and rebirth..." Yage's voice spread through global media, "Join us, become the creators of a new world..."

Even more shocking was that real-time translation appeared below Yage's speech, covering the world's major languages, ensuring his message could be understood by the widest possible audience.

Lin Xuan immediately contacted all Guardians: "The Void Devourer has changed strategy! They are no longer purely invading by force, but are attempting to achieve their goals by corrupting human hearts. We must take action immediately to stop the spread of this information and simultaneously find all targets that have already been affected!"

He turned to Xiao Yuan: "I need you to stay in Beijing to coordinate the defense here. I must head to Rio de Janeiro immediately to confront Yage personally."

Xiao Yuan nodded: "I will continue to perfect the Five Elements Resonance Array and maintain communication with the Earth Consciousness."

Lin Xuan leaped off the roof, summoned the Wood Origin Aircraft, and sped toward South America. En route, he contacted the Five Elements Academy branches and Awakened networks across the globe via the communication system, demanding they immediately launch operations in major cities to find and isolate the sources of Void Pollution.

However, the development of the situation was more complex than anticipated. After Yage's speech ended, spontaneous gatherings began to appear in major cities around the world, with people chanting slogans of a "new world." Even more worrying was that some Practitioners who had already awakened also joined these gatherings, claiming that the Void Energy had given them an unprecedented experience of power.

After six hours of high-speed flight, Lin Xuan finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro. However, when he landed in the plaza where Yage had given his speech, it was already deserted, leaving only flyers and banners scattered on the ground.

Li Yan came up to meet him, his expression grave: "Yage left two hours ago, but he left behind a large number of 'Xintu', and now the entire city has fallen into chaos."

Lin Xuan looked around, able to perceive the faint residue of Void Energy permeating the air: "Where did he go?"

"According to our intelligence, he headed to New York," Li Yan replied, "That is the global financial center and also his next target."

Lin Xuan immediately contacted Xu Feng, who was organizing defenses in New York: "Xu Feng, immediately blockade all major transportation hubs and media centers in New York; Yage is about to arrive. No matter what, you cannot let him give another public speech!"

After ending the communication, Lin Xuan turned to Li Yan: "How is the situation here?"

Li Yan led Lin Xuan through the city streets, showing him the consequences of the Void bewitchment. On the streets and in the alleys, a faint purple-black glow had begun to appear in the eyes of some people; they gathered together, tapping the ground or walls with a strange rhythm, seemingly performing some kind of ritual.

"Worse is this," Li Yan brought Lin Xuan to a sprawling mansion, "This is the residence of a local billionaire, but it has now become the headquarters for the Void Believers."

The exterior walls of the mansion were already covered in black-purple crystal-like substances, and eerie light flashed from the windows from time to time. Guarding the outside was a team of Practitioners from the Five Elements Academy; the energy barrier they released enveloped the entire mansion, preventing the Void Energy inside from leaking out.

"We tried to enter, but every time we approached, it triggered intense energy fluctuations; the people inside seem to be performing some kind of large-scale ritual," Li Yan explained, "And, according to the characteristics of the energy fluctuations, there may be a small Dimension Rift inside."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment: "I need to go in and see. Prepare for a raid; I will lead the team personally."

Under Lin Xuan's command, the Practitioners divided into three groups, entering from the main entrance, the back garden, and the roof respectively. Lin Xuan and Li Yan led the main force to break through the main entrance; the combination of Wood Element and Fire Element Energy easily shattered the Void Barrier at the door.

The interior of the mansion had completely changed—the walls and floors were covered in pulsating black-purple matter, and the furniture was twisted and deformed, as if it were alive. In the center of the hall, about fifty people dressed in black robes stood in a circle, with a tall figure standing in the middle, chanting in an unfamiliar language.

This person turned around, revealing a familiar face—it was an internationally renowned Keji Jutou, who now had been completely eroded by Void Energy, with only endless darkness in their eyes.

"Guardian Lin, we are welcoming the dawn of a new world," the Keji Jutou said with a smile, their voice carrying an unnatural echo, "Lord Yage prophesied that you would come, and also prophesied that you would see the truth."

They pointed to the wall behind them, where a small Dimension Rift was suspended, emitting waves of fluctuations: "Look, this is just the beginning. In major cities across the globe, 'seeds' like this have already been sown. When the time is ripe, they will bloom simultaneously to welcome the arrival of the Void Sovereign."