“Old… Old Lu…”
Aunt Tong pulled Old Lu’s arm, steering him away from the crowd toward the wall, her expression uneasy as she said, “Oh dear, what are you doing here?”
“Can’t I damn well come?” Old Lu glanced at the people around them. “Xiao Chan, what exactly are you all here for? Is this some mission from ‘Paradise Mouth’…? Who are these people?”
“Old Lu… Oh dear… It’s hard to explain!” Aunt Tong replied. “All I can say is this place is really dangerous. You need to leave.”
“I damn well won’t!” Old Lu snapped. “Didn’t we promise to tell each other everything? And now you—”
Aunt Tong’s expression instantly stiffened, and she quickly grabbed his arm to cut him off.
“Hey!” she whispered urgently. “There are so many kids here… Just—”
“Did the ‘Mother Goddess’ tell you to hide this from me?” Old Lu demanded. “Such a huge scene… and some weird old man with a white beard guarding the front. You even said yourself this place looks dangerous, yet you came here in secret?”
“This has nothing to do with the ‘Mother Goddess’!” Aunt Tong frowned. “Honestly… Old Lu, the ‘Mother Goddess’ never once hinted that you’d appear in my life… Our feelings aren’t under her protection.”
“What damn ‘Mother Goddess’ protection…” Old Lu scoffed. “Doesn’t the Mother Goddess know my name is Lü Fengxian and yours is Xiao Chan? Aren’t we a match made in heaven?”
“You…” Aunt Tong’s face darkened further. “Have you no shame… Do you even realize the situation we’re in? And we’re both this old… Who cares about our feelings now? There are more important things to do!”
“I don’t care…” Old Lu said stubbornly. “Xiao Chan, this time, you’re taking me with you. I can definitely help.”
“Stop joking around!” Aunt Tong was visibly angry now. “Sure, we can keep each other company here… But don’t you understand? Once we leave… everything in the ‘Land of Finality’ will disappear!”
“I don’t care about that!” Old Lu shouted. “I lost my wife, and all these years, the only thing I remember is us relying on each other. So this time, I damn well *will* help you! Just tell me what needs to be done!”
“You—”
**”To all participants and Zodiacs involved in this operation.”**
Before they could continue, a booming voice suddenly echoed from above.
This voice seemed different from Yan Zhichun’s “Heavenly Voice.” Not only was the tone distinct, but even the way it propagated felt unusual.
If “Heavenly Voice” was a persuasive whisper in one’s ear, this thunderous announcement crashed down from the sky like a storm.
**”An emergency temporary reward is now being broadcast. Please listen carefully.”**
People around them raised their heads, searching for the source of the voice, but its origin remained elusive.
**”Currently, a group of rebels has appeared in the southern square of the city, attempting to destroy the giant clock and display screens stationed there. Anyone who can stop this rebellion—whether Zodiac or participant—will receive a reward of one thousand ‘Dao.'”**
Yan Zhichun and Jiang Ruoxue both frowned at the announcement. They had expected this mission to be difficult, but not *this* difficult.
**”All Zodiacs, you heard correctly. As the Heavenly Ox, I hereby grant you temporary leave from your posts, guaranteeing your safety. The one thousand ‘Dao’ are ready, reserved for the team or individual who ultimately thwarts the rebellion. May you succeed swiftly.”**
The “Extremists” present began to look uneasy, and what unsettled them even more was the growing commotion nearby.
After all, one thousand “Dao” was nearly a third of the escape goal in the eyes of most—an overabundant reward that might take dozens of cycles to accumulate otherwise.
“Soon, most of the people who come here will be ‘Echoers’ with intact memories,” Yan Zhichun said grimly. “There’ll also be a few clueless ‘participants’ drawn by the spectacle. Looks like we’ll need to make an example.”
“Tch, the ‘participants’ are manageable, but what about the ‘Zodiacs’?” Weekend asked.
“The ‘Zodiacs’ aren’t a concern,” Yan Zhichun replied. “A reward of one thousand ‘Dao’ will only attract ‘Human-level Zodiacs.’ Brother Goat told me ‘Earth-level Zodiacs’ don’t even need ‘Dao.'”
As they spoke, movement began in the distance—figures gathering. They hadn’t expected the so-called “rebels” to number in the hundreds.
Many newly arrived stragglers could only watch from afar, but everyone knew their numbers would only grow. An all-out assault was just a matter of time.
“Strike now,” Yan Zhichun ordered. “Everyone, prioritize attacking the display screens! Seize the objective before the ‘participants’ fully assemble!”
The moment she finished speaking, an “Extremist” dashed forward, waving his hands. A massive sandstorm materialized out of thin air, countless grains and pebbles pelting the screens with a cacophony of cracks.
White Tiger’s expression darkened as he raised his hand. A bizarre gale erupted from his sleeve, instantly scattering the sandstorm.
The force of the wind was so immense that the nearest people were lifted half a meter off the ground before crashing down unceremoniously.
On the rooftop, Jiang Shi shielded his eyes slightly from the sand and murmured, “It’s ‘Gale Force.'”
More and more “Extremists” began using their “Echoes” to assault the giant clock and display screens.
But most of their attacks only caused minor wear to the screens, failing to inflict substantial damage.
Then, an extremely obese girl stepped forward. Her swollen hands clasped together, and the “Echo” labeled “Expansion” manifested on the display screen.
A creaking, groaning sound followed as one of the massive metal support beams began to crack—seemingly expanding from within.
White Tiger sensed the danger and swung both hands. A hurricane-force gust, far beyond human endurance, blasted toward the girl’s face, rippling her skin like water.
“Xiaoxiao…!” the girl screamed.
In the distance, Xiaoxiao understood immediately. She closed her eyes and pointed at the approaching crowd of “participants.” The “Echo” of “Scapegoat” materialized in the wind.
The next second, the crushing gale vanished from the obese girl—only to send the distant “participants” flying into the air instead.
Seeing the obese girl’s attack stabilizing, Yan Zhichun immediately sprinted through the raging winds and dust toward Dr. Zhao.
“Dr. Zhao!” she shouted. “Do you see what’s happening now?! We’re running out of time!”
Dr. Zhao remained frozen in place, as if he hadn’t snapped out of his daze since earlier.
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