Chapter 147 - 146: Early Arrangements, Swarm of Insects

The Management Bureau was not as rule-bound as the patrol bureau, but its mobilization capacity and efficiency were by no means inferior.

It hadn’t been two minutes since Li Jing returned to the camp to meet up with Su Qiong when the 276 members of the Xiang City Management Bureau under her command assembled and prepared all necessary supplies.

Without much preamble, the expedition team of 278 set off immediately.

Mixing among the crowd, Li Jing noticed that under Su Qiong’s command, less than ten people had reached the Four Realm cultivation level, and the rest were about at the mid to late stages of Three Realm.

But that made sense.

Those who accompanied Su Qiong were merely the trailblazers from the Xiang City Management Bureau, not the main force.

If the trailblazers had Four Realm cultivators as abundant as cabbages, the Xiang City Management Bureau would have been too strong.

As the area between their camp and the ruins had been explored and repeatedly cleaned up, the expedition maintained a high-speed Sky Control state for the whole journey.

The trip was smooth sailing, without any hindrances.

In just over five minutes, they far saw a group of decrepit palace ruins standing on the desolate land.

Li Jing felt vexed by the calm journey so far.

No alien species showed up.

No Parasite Insects either.

Frankly, he was disappointed that nothing happened.

Could there at least be something with a health bar?

Looking at the ruins ahead that he can already see with the naked eye, Li Jing felt somewhat uneasy.

Seeing nothing around the ruins, he was startled.

All he could see was endless desolation.

This was different from what he had predicted...

Just as he was brooding over this, Su Qiong’s voice echoed in his communication earpiece.

"Something’s not right, all units halt and maintain high alert."

?

Li Jing was slightly taken aback.

What wasn’t right?

Where wasn’t it right?

He wasn’t the only one puzzled, so were the others in the Xiang City Management Bureau.

Regardless, no one questioned Su Qiong’s command.

Without any delay, the expedition team that was moving at high speed a second ago came to a hovering stop all at once.

Li Jing also stopped without hesitation.

Being a Dog Demon, Su Qiong was far more alert than humans.

If she suddenly issued a command, she must have noticed something.

Watching Su Qiong, who had stopped at the front of the team, Li Jing looked at the ruins they were now close to, his eyebrows furrowed.

At this moment, looking over at the ruins, he didn’t see anything unusual about them.

What exactly had Su Qiong noticed?

Just as he was puzzled, Su Qiong suddenly looked at him.

"Vice Officer Li."

Startled by the call, Li Jing moved next to her in the Sky Control state.

"Do you have any instructions, Captain?"

Seeing that the two were now in a superior-subordinate relationship before the members of the Xiang City Management Bureau, he had to maintain formal etiquette.

When he drew close, Su Qiong’s lips parted slightly, and she transmitted her voice over.

"The location of the ruins feels wrong. I can’t explain exactly how it feels off, but I have a sense of strong palpitation that stems from my biological instincts."

A palpitation stemming from biological instincts?

Li Jing frowned.

He had thought Su Qiong had detected something unusual through scent or similar means; he didn’t think she was relying on mere feelings.

Yet, it wasn’t unusual for her.

As a member of the beast class, she possessed an innate ability to sense danger.

After some hesitation, Li Jing said,

"I’ll take a look."

As he said this, he started forming hand seals.

"Heavenly Eye, open!"

With a single command, Li Jing’s vertical third eye located at the center of his eyebrows opened up.

Looking at him, Su Qiong started somewhat, then frowned.

All of them could use the Sky Eye Technique.

In fact, including Su Qiong, every single one of them had been using it since they left the camp.

She hadn’t thought Li Jing had refrained from using it.

It wasn’t about breaking any rules, per se.

But Li Jing’s courage was a bit too much.

The fact that they hadn’t come across any unseen creatures which are impossible to discover using the naked eye all the way here was thanks to a large-scale cleanup performed by the previous teams.

Half a month had passed since the Secret Realm had been opened again, and who knows whether the cleaned-up areas had again become a breeding ground for unseen creatures. So, taking precautions was necessary.

Even if he was audacious due to his skills, he shouldn’t have been playing with his life, right?

Undisguised unseen creatures weren’t much of a threat.

But once they managed to inhabit a host, like a venomous tumor, they would be almost impossible to get rid of, continuously consuming the host’s vitality.

If they ran into a powerful unseen creature, even Four Realm cultivators who had formed a Golden Core might suddenly die.

Anyway.

Su Qiong approached Li Jing because it was inconvenient for her to discuss her palpitations with anyone else.

Those who knew she was a monster were only Li Jing.

If she confided in others, they would most likely not believe her and it could even arouse suspicion about her.

Indeed, the 276 people present followed Su Qiong’s instructions, but her orders had to be reasonable, not childishly playful, otherwise, it would be difficult to convince everyone else.

At this moment, instead of offering any advice, Li Jing flashed her with a pupil technique, making her feel a bit uncomfortable.

If the pupil technique could reveal anything, someone in the large army should have already discovered it.

Because many subordinates were watching, Su Qiong did not dare to speak out.

Just as she was hesitating whether to continue communicating with Li Jing through voice transmission, an astonished woman’s voice sounded from her earpiece.

"Captain, where did you hire this Vice Officer Li? His Heavenly Eye technique seems to be at the level of the Great Perfection, giving a sense of being able to see through everything in the world!"

Surprised by the woman’s voice, Su Qiong turned her eyes in response.

At this moment, the woman, who was communicating with her alone, was a late Four Realm cultivator named Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue was not only the most powerful among the adventurers, but also one of Su Qiong’s former partners.

Zhuge Yue also practiced the Sky Eye Technique and managed to reach the Room-Entering Level.

The one in the front row of the crowd with the third eye on her forehead was Zhuge Yue herself.

Su Qiong knew how useful and difficult it was to practice the Heavenly Eye technique.

During her partnership with Zhuge Yue, her Room-Entering Level Heavenly Eye technique had not only saved her from danger but also discovered many treasures.

Li Jing’s Sky Eye Technique, at the level of Great Perfection!?

This...

Seriously?

While she was still surprised, Li Jing’s hand pressed down on his communicator.

"Prepare for battle."

?

Su Qiong.

?

The 276 people at the rear.

"Clang!"

At the sound of the sword, Zhuge Yue, with her Heavenly Eye activated, obediently followed the instructions, summoned her flying sword, and shouted.

"Are you all deaf? Prepare for battle!"

Li Jing, this mysterious deputy officer who suddenly appeared, was arranged by Su Qiong.

No one dared to object, but they also didn’t take it to heart.

How many people would care about someone who was clearly there due to his relationship?

But no one dared to dismiss Zhuge Yue’s order.

No other reason.

Zhuge Yue was powerful.

Stronger than anyone present!

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The sound of swords drawn could not stop.

The large army of 276 people was armed within a minute.

Su Qiong also pulled out a flying sword.

Monsters cannot learn human magic and do not want to learn it.

Compared to human cultivators who rely on various external objects, monster cultivators rely more on their own bodies.

But as a monster with audacious pragmatism lurking in the Management Bureau, Su Qiong wouldn’t be short of flashy items.

Not knowing how to control the Sword didn’t prevent her from using a flying sword to make herself look powerful.

After taking out her flying sword, Su Qiong asked Li Jing.

"What did your Heavenly Eye technique see?"

"I’m not sure, but I did see some abnormalities."

Li Jing responded, his third eye on his brow staring into the distance.

When he performed the Heavenly Eye technique, he didn’t see anything at first.

The Secret Realm was entirely a dead silence.

Under the Heavenly Eye technique, the entire area was filled with a faint grey mist.

This mist was not Yin Qi, but pure dead Qi.

Honestly, the pervasive dead Qi greatly affected his judgement.

His Heavenly Eye technique, at the stage of Great Perfection, was too sensitive.

Any Qi that appeared due to Spiritual Qi could be seen clearly.

But looking around, there was grey dead Qi everywhere. Li Jing couldn’t tell where the difference was.

But it was because his Great Perfection Heavenly Eye technique was so sensitive that Li Jing noticed that the dead Qi pervading the environment was subtly surging towards the central spire of the ruins.

The speed of the moving dead Qi was very slow, so slow that even with his Great Perfection Heavenly Eye technique, Li Jing could barely notice it.

The central spire in the ruins was like a bottomless pit, absorbing the dead Qi incessantly, but didn’t thicken or condense the surrounding dead Qi.

However, the slow-moving dead Qi eventually left traces that Li Jing could follow, and that’s how he noticed the abnormalities.

Li Jing turned his head to look at Su Qiong, then said.

"You should step back, to avoid getting accidentally hurt."

Upon hearing Li Jing’s words, Su Qiong instinctively backed up, and frowned, her voice transmitted through the air.

"What are you going to do?"

"Just trying to probe."

Li Jing transmitted his voice back as his hands interlocked, making seal patterns.

As the seal patterns shifted in his hands, flashes of thunder could be seen around him.

Above the distant spire, terrifying dark clouds were gradually enveloping it.

Su Qiong’s eyelid twitched at the sight.

It was obvious, Li Jing was releasing some form of powerful Thunder Skill.

The spire was the target!

If it were somewhere else, she might not have said anything.

But this ancient relic was an important investigation target.

Last time, due to many changes, the Research Institute did not further investigate the relic for safety reasons.

Now she had accepted the mission to lead a team to establish a safe zone in the relic in advance. On one hand, this was to facilitate the subsequent setup of a camp for underground exploration; on the other hand, it was to ensure a safe environment when the Institute’s personnel arrive.

Li Jing was preparing to blast the tallest and most central spire of the relic with his Thunder Skill.

If it managed to expose some clues, it would be acceptable. If not, she would certainly take the blame.

Seeing Li Jing making the sealing spell in his hand very quickly, Su Qiong’s face changed dramatically.

She wanted to speak out, but a loud "rumble" sounded from afar.

A scorchingly powerful thunder tore through the sky and earth.

!!!

Su Qiong widened her eyes.

She only hesitated for a moment, and Li Jing had already finished his spell?

Was he supposed to be so fast?

What appeared slow was done in a fraction of a second,

Li Jing’s Nine Heavens God Thunder at the level of Great Perfection fell, shattering the distant spire instantly.

The terrifying thunder demolished the entire spire into fragments.

At the moment the spire collapsed, an infuriated and harsh howl echoed through the heavens and the earth.

"Humans, you shall die!"

Hearing the howl, every present person’s expression turned.

However, Li Jing’s expression remained unchanged, and he continued making hand seals.

The spire collapsed, and the harsh howl rang out.

However, there was still not the slightest sign from afar.

There was no Health Bar.

Through the Sky Eye Technique, death energy still slowly gathered where the spire had stood.

Although it was not clear what was happening, it seemed that the howl just now was mostly for intimidation.

Joking.

Was he, Li Jing, someone to be frightened?

He was the one scaring people, not the other way around.

The obvious issue with the spire needed to be exposed. Was it notnit proper to blast it out?

In roughly twenty seconds, the seal in Li Jing’s hand was completed again.

"Rumble!"

Another loud noise, and the shocking thunder sounded again.

The Nine Heavens God Thunder descended.

Simultaneously, a sharp shriek sounded as a gigantic face, seemingly neither human nor beast, surged from the ground where the spire had originally stood and directly faced the descending thunder.

"Boom!"

The Nine Heavens God Thunder dispersed.

The gigantic face, seeming neither human nor beast, hovered in the air, chillingly staring over.

"What the hell is that!?"

Every hair on Su Qiong’s body stood on end.

Everyone behind her also felt their scalp tingle.

The monstrous face hovering overhead was not a physical entity.

It was a ghastly green color, terrifying to behold.

This, however, was not the key issue.

The crucial point was that Li Jing’s Nine Heavens God Thunder was seen firsthand by everyone.

In the legion of Three Realm Attack Methods, the Nine Heavens God Thunder was notoriously powerful.

Li Jing’s previous strike could be said almost to reach the boundary of the Four Realms.

The monstrous face probably belonged to a kind of Phantasm being, which should be overpowered by Yang Thunder (positive energy in the form of thunder).

However, it faced the God Thunder head-on and remained without visible damage.

How strong must a Phantasm be to accomplish that?

Li Jing himself was taken aback looking at the face.

Two strikes of Nine Heavens God Thunder and something that could take a direct God Thunder hit had been blasted out from nowhere. If he said he was not shaken, it would definitely be a lie.

However, almost instantly, Li Jing’s demeanour returned to normal.

There were two reasons.

First, the face did not have a Health Bar.

Second, the opponent was just staring at him.

Whether or not the face was bluster without substance, Li Jing did not know.

But he could determine that the face was a projection through some sort of means and was not the actual entity.

If it were an Alien Species entity, it would definitely show a Health Bar.

Thus,...

This opponent was still merely trying to frighten him.

If it was only to scare him, it must be for two goals.

To buy time, or to divert attention.

The emphasis was on what lay beneath the surface of the earth!

Li Jing looked at the spot where the spire originally stood when he noticed his own face looking back at him, quickly analyzing the situation.

This face is not the actual ruler, but it has substantial power.

At the very least, it’s capable of resisting God Thunder.

Continuing to bombard it would just waste my energy.

Bringing in others might not achieve anything either.

And if anything goes wrong, I might end up blowing up this entire ruin.

I may have attacked the tower without hesitation, but I understand the research value of these ruins.

What to do?

An idea suddenly crossed Li Jing’s mind and he snapped his fingers.

His Thousand Spirit Strikes appeared behind him.

In the next second, the spirit strikes were fired all at once, heading straight for the ruins of the spire.

The face in the sky caught sight of the unified spirit strikes, looked down and, to human-like amusement, sneered.

Li Jing raised an eyebrow upon seeing this.

This face is indeed being controlled by someone else.

Exactly how this is being done, I can’t be sure.

However, it is clear that my spirit strikes have been underestimated.

Backed by the cultivation level of a late-stage Three Realm, the power of Li Jing’s spirit strikes is far beyond ordinary.

Not only are they fast, but their attack range also extends over three thousand meters.

Without encountering any obstacles, it only took a blink of an eye for the thousand spirit strikes to land on the spot that housed the original spire.

By this time, the others, including Xu Qiong, had reacted.

They had indeed been taken aback.

But talk about cowardice? Not even close.

Joining the Management Bureau and then the Secret Realm exploration team, aren’t we all putting our lives in danger?

Li Jing’s third attack, coupled with the face in the sky’s sardonic expression, has helped them realize the truth.

The face itself was merely a sort of tool, meant to intimidate and defend simultaneously.

With this realization, everyone was shocked and incensed.

All these were probably orchestrated by an unknown wisdom civilization that had been toying with the Management Bureau.

Before they arrived, the enemies had already set up in these ruins, preparing to surprise them.

However, their plot was discovered first.

Now, they are merely trying to buy time, either trying to escape or quietly shift and minimize losses.

Realizing this, how could everyone not be both shocked and enraged?

Had Xu Qiong and Li Jing not discovered this, they might have fallen into the trap.

Seeing Li Jing take action again, everyone maintained their cool.

Starting a rushed fight without a clear understanding of the situation would be like delivering food to the enemy.

No doubt, the most informed person was Li Jing.

Let’s see what he is going to do!

Li Jing did not disappoint everyone.

Once the Thousand Spirit Strikes landed, he snapped his fingers again and whispered:

"Explode."

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The spirit attacks burst at the same time, and the large amount of Spiritual Qi that surged forth not only dispersed the deadly energy but also shattered the ruins, causing the ground to cave in.

Seeing the ground cave in, the face in the sky changed color.

"Humans! Damn you!"

Before the voice finished speaking, Li Jing retorted.

"Are you a damn parrot?"

With that, he summoned the Flying Sword Blue Edge.

"I need two of the Four Realm guys to hold off that face! The rest of you, follow me underground! Guard your Primordial Spirits! There’s a swarm of Parasite Insects underground!"

As the ground caved in, Li Jing successfully found the Health Bars.

Countless Health Bars.

With the support of the Heavenly Eye in its Great Perfection state, the vertical eye between his eyebrows could clearly capture any object within ten thousand meters.

Parasite Insects!

Such a large swarm!

Who knows how many there are in total!

At this moment, the swarm of insects is retreating underground like a tide.

Am I supposed to just let them go?

But Li Jing wasn’t stupid enough to charge in alone.

The people behind him were ready to act, waiting only for Li Jing’s command.

As soon as he heard his shout, two Four Realm individuals immediately wielded their swords, each slashing a sword aura directly at the face.

The rest of them, hearing that there was a Parasite Insect swarm underground, transformed into sword lights without hesitation and rushed toward the center of the ruins where the ground had caved in.

There isn’t a single person here that doesn’t absolutely loathe the Parasite Insects.

On their last venture here, they nearly fell victim to these insects.

So now, they’re trying the same trick again?

Why not kill them all and turn them into Merit Points?

Seeing everyone else charge in, Li Jing transformed into sword light and followed them toward the collapsed ground.

The people from the Management Bureau are all looking for Merit, but I’m looking for Experience and money!

We’re all "competitors". You snatch as much as you can, but you must never lag behind others.