Ding Junyi frowned. “Soone’s injured?”
“They said three people were hurt. Old Guo’s been rushed to the dical Carriage—barely managed to survive,” Wei Kexue said as he took off his black-rimd glasses and wiped them while walking. “The pressure from the monster tide on the front line is intense. Command suspects this might be a riot from so Eerie Entity group, so they’re watching our current experint closely. They want to know if anything unusual is going on.”
“If it’s just a Dark Mark, then based on what we’ve seen, there shouldn’t be any high-level Marks yet. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have been this calm the last couple of days.”
Ding Junyi replied while walking, “But the command center’s trying to gather other intel through these Marks. So far, there haven’t been any signs at all.”
“But it’s strange.” Wei Kexue said, “We’ve run multiple controlled tests on over twenty Snow Wraith specins caught from the front lines, yet not a single one matches Professor Ding’s previous experintal paraters. And now No. 13 suddenly went berserk for no reason. Could it be related to the environnt?”
“That’s what’s confusing the most,” Ding Junyi said grimly. The two of them hurried into the building next door and pushed open a door to find the room packed. So stood, others sat on the floor—all were research personnel from the Science Group and the Emperor Group. Phoenix dical staff were treating the wounded, and Guo Sicheng lay on a temporary cot, his cold-weather suit tattered and bloodied. He looked visibly agitated.
Several soldiers from the Investigation Corps were also present. One burly officer standing off to the side turned and saluted as Ding Junyi and Wei Kexue entered.
“Commander He, what’s the situation?”
He Zhen, commander of the 7th Investigation Corps, had a square face and a permanent frown. He didn’t look easy to deal with.
But those who knew him well knew that he was quite affable with subordinates and fellow departnts—just not on the battlefield, where he was all business.
“Couldn’t hold him back. Nearly got his head split open, and he still wanted to head for the lab,” He Zhen said, glancing at his deputy. “Xiao He, explain the situation.”
“Yes, sir.” Xiao He, a young soldier, imdiately addressed Ding Junyi and Wei Kexue. “Professor Guo and Team Leader Yu were about to apply electric stimulation to Test Subject No. 13 to observe its response to the Dark Mark. But suddenly, the creature went berserk. It bit through its limbs to escape the restraints and attacked the research staff. Luckily, we got there in ti.”
“Bit through its own limbs?” Ding Junyi’s brow furrowed. She turned to the other injured researchers. “We’ve done electric stim tests before. Why this ti? Did we overlook sothing?”
The few disheveled, dusty researchers exchanged glances and shook their heads.
“All standard procedures.”
“Voltage settings were the sa…”
“There was a change!” Professor Guo, from his cot, suddenly tried to sit up. Wei Kexue rushed over to help. “Professor, what happened exactly?”
Guo adjusted his broken glasses and said urgently, “The subject wasn’t responding, so Professor Zhang and I discussed reducing the test distance. No matter how we stimulated it, it didn’t react—until we brought the Blood Scourge Flora near it. That’s when it snapped. I suspect the creature has a special sensitivity to the Flora.”
“Please don’t move, Professor. You still have internal bleeding,” a dical worker pressed him down quickly.
“Teacher!” Wei Kexue gently urged him back down. “Listen to the doctor. Don’t overexert.”
“But… there’s sothing else. When Subject No. 13 went berserk, more than a dozen others started acting crazy too—all at the sa ti. They were locked in isolation chambers, so none escaped, but they’re all housed far apart,” said the balding Professor Zhang, his face haggard. He’d been injured in the attack and looked thoroughly shaken.
Ding Junyi’s expression turned grim. She suddenly recalled the ti back in Rain Town, when that impostor tried to ambush their crew. She’d only survived thanks to the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum. Even then, she’d noted Eerie Entities seed to have so kind of heightened reaction to the Blood Scourge Flora.
She glanced around the room at the battered researchers, her heart sinking. She had hoped that cooperating with Phoenix would make the research process smoother—she’d already completed the final deductions of the formula.
Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng had even used her paraters to design the equation. All that was needed was to reverse-calculate based on the Flora’s reactions and use the ultra-pure germanium detector to pinpoint the Dark Mark with high probability.
Yet bizarrely, even after multiple control tests with captured Eerie Entities, no Dark Marks had been detected. Not a single reaction from the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum.
This inexplicable result had even Ding Junyi baffled.
He Zhen checked his watch, then turned to her. “Professor Ding, you ntioned needing more subjects for group testing. Can you give a number? I’ll dispatch a Special Unit right away.”
“Yes…” Guo Sicheng, pale and weak on the cot, muttered, “I reviewed Professor Ding’s paraters carefully. These Snow Wraiths may be too isolated individually… Group testing really is necessary…”
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion shook the entire building. The floor quaked, chunks of plaster rained down, and the lights flickered wildly, as if a massive detonation had just struck.
“Xiao He! Li Luo! Protect the scientists!!”
Amid the chaos, He Zhen was the first to react, barking orders to guard the researchers.
As layers of dust fell, he looked up and saw Ding Junyi rushing out already. He imdiately followed.
The two bolted into the hallway—only to find the entire corridor ahead had collapsed. Across the gap, the neighboring B Block Lab Building had half its structure gone, replaced by a towering black behemoth—a giant Abyss Worm bursting up from underground like a living skyscraper.
That entire half of the building had been swallowed in a single bite.
“Watch out!”
He Zhen yanked Ding Junyi back. Her face was pale—Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum was still inside that building!
“Eerie Entity attack on the Inner City!”
Dragging her to safety, He Zhen rallied his troops and charged out. Within seconds, gunfire and air raid sirens rang through the once-quiet city of Xilan.
Massive floodlights lit up the night, illuminating the black worm. Its body, like a mountain of dark cent, lood above the snowstorm. The lab building's remnants clung to exposed floors, rebar, and concrete. Severed power lines sparked violently.
Rat-a-tat-tat! Boom! Boom!
The city's firepower escalated rapidly, long guns and heavy artillery bombarding the Abyss Worm’s massive form.
VROOOOM!!
As rubble collapsed, the creature let out a deafening hum, shaking the very ground beneath them.
All across Xilan, survivors were jolted awake. On Central Avenue, headlights from thousands of convoy vehicles lit up like rippling waves.
“What’s happening?!”
“Eerie Entity attack!”
“Where?!”
“Inside the city!”
“The air raid alarm’s going off—”
“Quick, grab your gear!”
“All convoys, stay alert—”
Woooooo~
At the Northern Airport, the aerial strike fleet scrambled. On the tarmac, various fighter jets were already heating up, the massive floating engines of a Dreadnought-Class Aerial Carrier roaring to life. Pilots and ground crew raced everywhere.
On the streets, heavy vehicles and artillery were being rushed toward the university district.
At Xilan Industrial University, the Abyss Worm had erupted dozens of ters into the air, swallowing half a building. Explosions pelted its black body, sending chunks of flesh flying.
But only minutes later, it unleashed another deep quake—and began to retreat, dragging dust and rubble with it as it vanished underground.
Just when it seed like a massive siege had begun, the Abyss Worm mysteriously disappeared. Before long, the city fell eerily silent again.
Even the battlefronts on the East and South city walls fell quiet. The relentless Snow Wraith assaults had suddenly stopped.
At the Northern Freight Rail Platform—
Lin Xian, who had just fallen asleep, was startled awake by the air raid sirens and tremors. Outside the Service Car, Infinite Train team mbers doing repairs and upgrades dropped everything, their faces pale.
“That sound—wasn’t that from Central Avenue?”
“Yeah, are we under attack?”
Shhhk—
A mont later, Lin Xian, KIKI, Chen Sixuan, Shu Qin, and Lu Xingchen, along with Shi Diyuan, Ning Jing, and Lu Yong from Dragon Mountain No. 1, all jumped off the train.
“What the h*ll—almost morning and sothing still happens?” Shi Diyuan barked. “A’Bai, Chen Dong—get airborne and scout it out!”
Whoosh—from Dragon Mountain No. 1, a winged Ability User took off with A’Bai.
Lin Xian looked at KIKI and Chen Sixuan. They nodded. KIKI grabbed Chen Sixuan and soared into the sky.
High above, Chen Sixuan pulled out the teorite-3 to trace the shockwave’s source.
“It’s over at the university!”
Her expression changed. Once on the ground, she told Lin Xian imdiately.
“It’s a giant bug. The creature’s aura is insanely strong,” A’Bai added, his face tense.
Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan exchanged looks—everyone knew sothing serious was going down.
Then, the air raid sirens suddenly cut off.
“Alarm’s over?”
“KIKI, take over there,” Lin Xian said, grabbing his Black Rifle without hesitation.
“Shu Qin, Ms. Chen—full alert on the train.”
“Got it.” Chen Sixuan looked at Lin Xian, worried. He’d been working all night, and now not even ten minutes of rest before another crisis. Plus, she knew that’s where Director Ding was—her heart sank.
Lin Xian and KIKI took off toward Xilan Industrial University.
“Let’s go check it out too. Lao Lu, you hold the line here!” Shi Diyuan called, taking Ning Jing and A’Bai with him.
By now, the field outside the university’s lab building was filled with tanks and artillery. Over a thousand soldiers from the Investigation Corps stood guard.
A massive pit, over ten ters wide, had opened where Building B’s foundation used to be. Spotlights bead down into the abyss. Half the building still dangled above, with furniture, files, and lab equipnt tumbling down...
Vroom!
A large snow vehicle roared in. The door opened and a tall, lean middle-aged man in a thick coat jumped down, striding quickly through the dirty snow.
Behind him followed over a dozen Nightwalkers from the Starfire Group, including Wen Zhu.
The man’s sharp gaze and hawk-like eyes radiated an unshakable, mountain-like presence.
Phoenix’s chief in Xilan—Zhao Yu.
“Where’s He Zhen?” he asked, his voice steely as he turned to a nearby officer.
“Reporting, Director Zhao—Commander He’s over there.” The officer handed over a terminal while briefing him.
“Building collapse. Professors Guo and Zhang were moved to Building A’s dical center during the attack—no fatalities. But there were over thirty people still working in B Block. Only a few have been pulled out.”
Zhao Yu snatched the device, then turned to Wen Zhu. “Starfire Group.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wen Zhu’s expression turned cold. “Jing Tian, Wang Mocheng, with .”
Swish!
With a flick of his hand, Wen Zhu tossed two tal rods behind him and shot into the air. Two Nightwalkers—one tall, one short—grabbed the rods and followed him upward.
Magnetism Ability!
Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzt~
Exposed steel rods on the ground trembled and buzzed under Wen Zhu’s power, lifting the three of them swiftly toward the deep crater.
anwhile, He Zhen was personally leading rescue efforts at what remained of Building B.
Wei Kexue and Ding Junyi stood behind the team, looking dazed.
Just then, soldiers pulled a soot-covered researcher from the tilted structure. Wei Kexue rushed over in a panic.
“Professor Wang—where’s Professor You?!”
The man’s face was covered in blood and dust. He gasped, waving his hand weakly. “They… they fell. All gone. All of them.”
Wei Kexue went pale. He was shaking—there had been over twenty researchers in that room.
“What about Team Leader Yu? He was still inside, wasn’t he?”
“Team Leader Yu’s over here!!!”
Before the words had even finished echoing, Xiao He and a few soldiers ca charging out from the rubble and smoke, covering a figure covered head to toe in dust. As everyone looked over—they saw it really was Yu Yuheng. Not only that, he was cradling a transparent plant cultivation pod, and inside was none other than a Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum!
Ding Junyi’s eyes lit up the mont she saw it, and she quickly rushed over with Wei Kexue.
Cough cough cough...
Yu Yuheng stumbled out, still clutching the Blood Scourge Flora, and imdiately passed it to Ding Junyi as soon as he spotted her. “The scanner... was still on when we left. I checked. The Disaster Flora hasn’t changed.”
Xiao He, who had been covering the rescue, glanced around and added, “We got him out, but he insisted on going back in to retrieve that thing. Said it was really important.”
Wei Kexue nodded repeatedly, then hurriedly turned to He Zhen. “Yes—yes! It’s crucial! We’re counting on it to figure out how these Dark Entities attack.”
He Zhen nodded thoughtfully. At that mont, footsteps approached from behind. They turned to see Zhao Yu leading a team toward them at a brisk pace.
“Old Zhao.”
“He Zhen, what’s the situation?”
He Zhen frowned. “I was right here when it happened. No warning at all. That thing suddenly burst out from underground and attacked the research building. There were over thirty people working in Building A. We’ve only managed to rescue nine.”
He gestured toward Wei Kexue and Ding Junyi. “There was an earlier attack in the lab too—Professor Guo, Professor Zhang were both injured. They’ve been moved to the infirmary for now—at least they’re safe.”
Whoosh whoosh~
Just then, Wenzhuo and the other two who’d been scouting the underground tunnel returned, flying in from above.
“It got away. We didn’t dare pursue too deep. Not sure if it’s the sa one the Emperor Team reported from the Trakamar Ice Canyon,” Wenzhuo reported to Zhao Yu.
Yu Yuheng stepped forward, face smudged with dirt, voice trembling. “Yes, it’s the sa one! I saw the wounds we inflicted on it when we were retreating!”
He’d been standing near the door when the Abyssal Worm struck. All he heard was a deafening roar—and then the entire building, along with his colleagues, vanished in an instant. The hellish scene nearly knocked him off his feet. But in that very mont, he saw it—a large puncture wound on the black worm’s body, and a deep scorched gash left by A’Bai’s laser beam.
That’s when he knew—it was the sa worm they encountered in Trakamar Ice Canyon.
Hearing this, He Zhen’s face darkened. “An A-Class Eerie Entity launching a sudden attack here? Old Zhao, that’s a really bad sign.”
Zhao Yu’s expression turned grim as his eyes swept over the giant crater now exposed to the frigid wind, letting out ghostly wails. Phoenix personnel were scrambling to evacuate the rest of the researchers and equipnt from the research building.
“Report.”
A voice ca through Zhao Yu’s comms. “Director Zhao, a lot of convoy leaders have arrived. The numbers are increasing—over a hundred so far.”
“Let in only the Phoenix-Insignia Convoys.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lin Xian hadn’t expected that the first ti his Crimson Phoenix Token would co in handy would be now. Hundreds of convoy mbers had rushed to the scene hoping to get information, but only about ten convoys were granted access to Industrial University grounds.
These were Phoenix's official collaborators—recognized for their strength and trustworthiness. In critical monts like this, they were considered role models among survivors and could cooperate in joint operations with Phoenix.
Among them, only Lin Xian and KIKI had arrived on foot—flying, in fact. The rest ca in a variety of vehicles, a dozen or so entering the campus square under military escort.
Besides Shi Diyuan, Qian Dele, and Lin Xian, the rest were all major figures too—Han Jun and Green Wind from the Arctic Wind Alliance, Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy.
From afar, Lin Xian saw the partially-collapsed building and the massive crater under floodlights. His heart sank. He and KIKI hurried over and imdiately spotted Ding Junyi, Wei Kexue, and a battered Yu Yuheng among the soldiers.
“Captain Lin!”
Wei Kexue spotted Lin Xian and waved him over.
Hearing him, Zhao Yu, He Zhen, and Wenzhuo all turned their eyes toward them too.
“You must be Lin Xian from the Infinite Convoy,” Zhao Yu stepped forward and extended a hand. “I’m Zhao Yu, head of operations in Xilan City. This is He Zhen from the 7th Investigation Corps. First ti eting in person, but I’ve read your file. Wei Kexue’s told us about you too.”
Lin Xian, surprised, shook hands with them.
“Director Zhao, Commander He—may I ask what exactly happened here?” Lin Xian’s gaze flicked to the Hell’s Black Chrysanthemum in Ding Junyi’s hands, and he felt a slight sense of relief. Then he asked.
“A worm creature attacked the research building. Didn’t put up much of a fight before escaping. Its objective is still unclear,” He Zhen replied.
“That scent—it’s definitely the sa one!” A’Bai, who’d arrived with Shi Diyuan, suddenly spoke up. His voice was quiet but caught everyone’s attention.
“He can sense Eerie Entities? Gloom Gaze Ability?” Wenzhuo, captain of the Nightwalkers’ Starfire Unit, frowned. From Phoenix’s data, he knew A’Bai had a mutant eye-laser type Ability, but didn’t expect this sensory trait.
“Yes. He can sense the presence of Eerie Entities—even on people,” Shi Diyuan said as he approached, shook hands all around, and got straight to the point. “We heard the commotion. Just tell us—what does Phoenix need from us?”
“Dragon Mountain No. 1, Shi Diyuan. Crimson Phoenix Token holder,” Wenzhuo introduced him to Zhao Yu.
“Joker Convoy, Qian Dele.”
Zhao Yu nodded, then gestured toward the others. “Captain Han Jun from Arctic Wind Alliance, Vice Captain Green Wind, Captain Qin Xueming from Cosmic Convoy, his assistant A-Long, Captain Zhang Tianfang from Warrior Convoy, Captain Chen Xiao from the Torch Alliance. They arrived a bit earlier. Get familiar—there’s an evacuation coming up, and we’ll need your help.”
“Pleasure to et you.”
Han Jun gave Lin Xian a sharp once-over, then stepped forward to shake his hand. Lin Xian greeted the others as well.
These were all Phoenix Token holders—aning their convoys were among the strongest in Xilan City, recognized by Phoenix. In a crisis, they were partners in fighting off enemies.
“No need for small talk.” Zhao Yu pointed toward the massive crater. “An A-Class Eerie Entity attacked the inner city. Commander Yu says it’s the sa one you encountered in Trakamar Ice Canyon.”
“Yeah,” Yu Yuheng—still covered in dust—couldn’t even be bothered to clean himself off. “I saw the exact wounds Lin Xian and A’Bai inflicted on it—it’s definitely the sa creature.” His clenched, trembling fists made it clear how shaken he still was.
“An A-Class chasing us for hundreds of kiloters to strike a research lab?” Green Wind’s chanical left eye glowed faintly as it scanned the ruined building. “What does that even an?”
“It ran off?” asked Zhang Tianfang from Warrior Convoy, who looked younger than the others, flanked by two aides.
“What’s the casualty count?” asked Chen Xiao from the Torch Alliance.
Han Jun’s gaze swept across Lin Xian, Shi Diyuan, and the others, then landed on Zhao Yu. “We’ve heard Phoenix’s research team is accelerating a certain project. Sothing about Dark Entity behavior patterns. Is that true?”
Zhao Yu nodded. “That’s right. Our research team has been studying a unique attack pattern called the Dark Mark. Basically, Eerie Entities tag survivors with a mark we can’t detect and use it to hunt them. These marks can stack too—so the longer soone runs, the more attacks they attract. It’s like lighting a campfire in the dark—it draws the monsters.”
He turned to the group of scientists behind him. “That’s the general idea. I just got word that Old Professor Guo was injured. Wei Kexue, you explain.”
Wei Kexue adjusted his glasses, nervous. “Based on previous data, we should be able to reverse-calculate results using our current equipnt and team. But the strange part is—we haven’t found a single Dark Mark. We ran tests on multiple samples using the Disaster Flora, and... nothing.”
Hearing that, Lin Xian and KIKI’s expressions changed. Lin had assud their entrance into the city had cleared their marks through battle and his Gravity Lens, and that others inside likely still had lingering marks—just blocked from attack by the 7th Investigation Corps at the periter.
But now? No marks inside the city?
With tens of thousands of survivors from all over, how could that be possible?
Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng exchanged uncertain glances before continuing. “It’s incredibly unusual. Professor Guo, Commander Yu, Professor Ding, and I each ran tests using different thods and biological stimuli. But the results…”
“Could the test be faulty? Or maybe the hypothesis was wrong to begin with?” Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy, blunt as always, cut in.
“No!” both Wei Kexue and Yu Yuheng replied in unison.
Wei Kexue glanced at Ding Junyi, then said firmly, “We’ve reviewed Professor Ding’s research thoroughly—predictions and observations all line up. They even used themselves as test subjects, enduring multiple attacks from different Eerie Entities. The deductions were incredibly precise—there’s no room for error.”
Then Zhang Tianfang asked, “You used the Blood Scourge Flora for detection? Can that really be trusted?”
“That’s how our convoy found a pattern during our entire escape journey,” Lin Xian responded loudly. “So yes—I trust it.”
“Alright.” Zhang Tianfang nodded. “But if the Disaster Flora found no mark—why did an A-Class Entity attack here?”
“Maybe there’s more than one kind of mark. Still, that doesn’t explain the earlier attacks inside the city,” Chen Xiao added. His convoy had faced Eerie Entity attacks too, with casualties—only beaten back through a joint effort.
“Hey, we haven’t even figured out the cause—how can you be sure it can’t explain it?” KIKI shot back.
“No, no,” Wei Kexue quickly stepped in to clarify. “Killing an Eerie Entity can weaken or even remove the mark. The issue now is...”
“All our past encounters showed clear marking behavior. Even the Snow Wraith Horde. But this ti, after entering the city, all the marks vanished. That’s an extre anomaly. We need mass testing—maybe even testing outside the city—to understand the monster’s true intent,” Ding Junyi added.
And just like that, the group broke into a tense, chaotic debate.
Lin Xian felt his head spinning. He was completely drained. After working through the entire night and just about to catch so rest, disaster had struck. Now, standing before that massive crater and looking at the disheveled Yu Yuheng, he didn’t even know the status of the other scientists in the research team.
And the way that monster had appeared—it was so bizarre, it made Lin Xian feel utterly powerless.
Why? What was the reason?
Could there be sothing wrong with Ding Junyi’s research? No way. Without her theory, the Infinite Train wouldn’t have even made it to Xilan City.
Right now, Lin Xian felt like he was trapped in a fog of confusion.
Beside him, Qian Dele quietly glanced over at Lin Xian, who was wearing a deep frown. Lin Xian had ntioned the Dark Mark theory to him back in Trakamar Ice Canyon. It couldn’t be proven completely, but Lin’s evacuation strategy and the coordination of trains to combat the Eerie surge were clearly based on this hypothesis. And on that point, Qian was firmly in support of him.
“Aren’t we supposed to be talking about the attack right now?” Qian Dele suddenly interrupted the ongoing debate. He pointed toward the massive crater ahead. “A monster that big attacking the lab—there’s gotta be a reason, right?”
“Could it be because there were Eerie Entities here? Didn’t you just say you were using a bunch for research?” said Qin Xueming from the Cosmic Convoy, arms folded.
“Impossible.” He Zhen, commander of the Investigation Corps, stepped forward. “We’ve captured way more than that. The weapons research facility alone uses tons for testing weapons and defensive materials. They’re stored across multiple zones, not just here.”
At that, Ning Jing also spoke up. “Then what’s the reason? The Industrial University is in the center of the city. For a monster to attack the experintal building this precisely… that can’t be just a coincidence.”
“I think—”
“Enough!”
The discussion was suddenly cut off by a sharp voice—Zhao Yu. His eyes locked on Ning Jing.
“You’re absolutely right. There’s no way a monster like that would randomly attack a lab…” His gaze then swept across Ding Junyi, Wei Kexue, and the battered Yu Yuheng before barking out an order.
“He Zhen! Wen Zhu!”
“Here!” they both responded.
Looking at the dust-covered scientists, Zhao Yu gave his command without hesitation: “Imdiately relocate the research team to a secure zone. Assign additional guards and have Nightwalkers provide 24/7 protection. He Zhen—put Xiao He on escort duty. Whatever the research team needs, even if it seems impossible—make it happen. The stronger the resistance from our enemies, the more we know we’re on the right track! The entire force must offer full support to the research group!”
“Yes, sir!” He Zhen and Wen Zhu answered without hesitation.
Lin Xian’s eyes lit up with clarity. Zhao Yu’s words were like a gust of wind clearing fallen leaves—everything suddenly made sense.
And Zhao wasn’t just speaking to He Zhen and Wen Zhu. He was also addressing the scientists and leaders of survivor convoys like Lin Xian and Han Jun. He was sending a clear ssage: Phoenix fully trusts and supports the research team’s judgnt.
At the sa ti, his assessnt was sharp and decisive.
Just because there were no Dark Marks found across the city didn’t an the theory was invalid. But the Eerie Entity had still targeted the lab—why?
In Zhao Yu’s view, there were no coincidences. Only two possibilities:
The research team’s work had inadvertently attracted the creature’s attention.
Their findings posed a real threat to the Eerie Entities.
Either way, it ant their research was working. It ant they were right.
The others who heard Zhao Yu speak now felt like the fog in their minds had lifted.
Having issued his orders, Zhao Yu turned toward the leaders of several incoming survivor convoys.
“The situation is urgent. There’s no point debating anything else. Leave the science to the experts. What we can do is trust the research team. The city is no longer safe—we’ll need your help in other areas.”
“No problem. You’re the general of this city. We’ll follow your lead,” said Shi Diyuan, patting his chest.
“Zhao Chief, the Arctic Wind Alliance stands with Phoenix all the way,” added Han Jun.
Zhao Yu looked around. No need for more words. His tone turned fierce as he began assigning tasks.
“Starting now, the city is under full alert. All convoys gathered on Central Avenue must follow Phoenix’s evacuation plan and spread out to avoid bottlenecks. You convoy leaders will set the example.”
“Second, to brace for the increasing pressure on our outer defenses, I’ve already sent all of the Investigation Corps to the front lines,” he said, glancing toward the soldiers out in the snow-covered streets. “If sothing like tonight happens again, it could leave the front wide open. So you’re responsible for holding the city interior.”
“Understood,” Han Jun said calmly. “We’ll guard the eastern sector. The Arctic Wind Alliance is stationed there, alongside parts of the Joint Convoy. I’ll begin setting up defenses imdiately.”
“Alright. Then we of the Cosmic Convoy will handle the southern sector,” said Qin Xueming, arms crossed. “There are a lot of convoys there. We can hold the line.”
“We’ll take the north,” Qian Dele chid in. “Lots of train teams are based up there. It’s a bit tight, but they’ve got plenty of firepower and airport anti-air defense. We’ll be fine.”
“Then the Fenglan Mountain western sector is on us,” said Shi Diyuan with a look at Lin Xian, before turning to Zhao Yu with confidence. “There aren’t many people out there, but it’s backed up against the mountain. And our two convoys aren’t exactly soft, are we, Brother Lin?”
Lin nodded, then turned to look at Wei Kexue and Ding Junyi. “I’m good. What are your plans next?”
Ding Junyi’s expression was calm and serious. “We need to begin large-scale testing imdiately. If that fails, we’ll have to consider conducting tests outside the city.”
The situation had gone beyond what she’d expected, but danger wasn’t her concern. What bothered her was that the research progress had stalled.
“I agree,” said Wei Kexue, adjusting his glasses. “Guo Lao is injured. I suggest Professor Ding and Professor Zhang handle things at the lab. I’ll take charge of the group trials.”
“And count in!!!” Yu Yuheng smacked the dust off his cheeks and quickly stepped forward. “We’re short-handed. I’ll get all the support staff from the Emperor Team here now.”
Zhao Yu frowned slightly. “You’d better be ready for another attack. I’ll assign the Seismic Monitoring Team. That thing couldn’t have moved without leaving a trace. To play it safe, the research team needs multiple backup relocation sites.”
“Good call,” He Zhen nodded. “If the team’s really being targeted, this could happen again.”
“I’ll organize a dedicated guard unit,” Wen Zhu added.
Zhao Yu nodded, then pulled out a Phoenix-emblem communicator and adjusted the frequency. He turned to Lin Xian and the other convoy leaders. “All Phoenix dispatch and communication from now on will go through the Phoenix Token.”
“Got it.”
“Understood,” everyone responded.
“Everyone,” Zhao Yu said, scanning the group, “a storm is coming—stand together and endure it!”
With that, he swept his coat and led the crowd away in haste.
As his words echoed, a heavy sense of oncoming chaos settled over everyone.
Han Jun and the others looked toward Lin Xian and Shi Diyuan. The convoy leaders exchanged looks, then quickly departed. In just a few minutes, the city’s peaceful illusion would be shattered.
Above them, the dark sky hung low. Under the howling blizzard, Xilan City looked grim and deathly.
Wei Kexue turned his gaze toward the bottomless pit in the distance, his eyes filled with sorrow and emptiness.
Just thirty minutes ago, dozens of researchers had still been working by his side—burning the midnight oil, all for the chance to uncover the truth about the Dark Mark. Now, in a flash, all those familiar faces were gone.
“Professor Wei, it’s ti to go.”
Xiao He, He Zhen’s second-in-command, was in charge of securing the research team’s transfer. Seeing Wei in a daze, he stepped up to gently nudge him.
Yu Yuheng, now wrapped in a windproof blanket, glanced over at Wei. He wanted to say sothing but couldn't. The weight in his chest was too heavy—he’d watched his colleagues vanish before his eyes. Not even a single scream had made it out.
Ding Junyi stood nearby, watching all this unfold. Lin Xian and KIKI walked over.
“Director Ding.”
“Thank you for trusting my research without hesitation,” Ding Junyi said softly, still staring in Wei Kexue’s direction.
“It wasn’t without hesitation,” Lin Xian replied.
Ding Junyi looked at him, confused.
“I only wanted your support before. Now, I need you to complete this mission and co back safely to the Infinite Train,” Lin Xian said gravely.
The closer they got to results, the more turbulent it beca. Lin Xian could feel sothing sinister in the air—a suffocating sense of being toyed with. If before he just wanted to pass the Dark Mark research to Phoenix and be done, now—after seeing all those researchers lost in that crater, after seeing Wei, Yu, and Ding in danger—he was thinking the sa thing Zhao Yu had.
That maybe this research… had actually made sothing in the dark angry. Had made it feel threatened.
And the more that seed true, the more Lin Xian felt—he had to fight the darkness to the end!
Ding Junyi paused, seeing that resolute look in Lin’s eyes. Her calm deanor stirred with emotion. She pressed her lips together, then nodded.
“I promise.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the vehicles being prepared for evacuation.
Once Wei Kexue and the others had left, only the Investigation Corps soldiers remained, guarding the area around that terrifying abyss.
Swish—
Suddenly, the sky lit up. The wind howled even louder. Thunder bood across the horizon, tearing through the Extre Cold Vortex’s eye. It pressed down on the earth like a judgnt.
11:30. Dawn broke.
To prevent Eerie Entities from erging through the crater, Zhao Yu had ordered both soldiers and Nightwalkers, along with combat engineers, to temporarily seal the opening.
Lin Xian and KIKI stood in the plaza, watching this in silence.
“What do we do now?” KIKI asked, her breath fogging in the air beside him.
“We go back.”
“And then?”
“Sleep.”
Lin Xian turned around without hesitation. He had to rest. He needed to recover as fast as possible—because he was going to upgrade the Infinite Train’s firepower again.
Sothing catastrophic was creeping closer and closer to Xilan City. He could feel it.
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