Chapter 102: I’m Staying Here
The transcendent beings and other accompanying personnel had all retreated outside the building. They didn’t really know what was happening, only that they were following orders.
Lin Zhen really looked anxious, pacing almost uncontrollably in place. Wan Luo already had some issues with him, and upon receiving the unclear orders from their superiors and seeing Lin Zhen’s behavior, he directly approached him and asked, “Do you know something?”
“What’s going on?”
Lin Zhen shook his head, “Not sure yet, can’t say.”
If he said anything, the news would leak and cause panic.
Seeing Lin Zhen’s attitude, Wan Luo’s face showed some anger. “We’ve been working hard outside risking our lives, and now something’s happened but we’re not even worthy of getting any information?”
He had some understanding of Lin Zhen and knew him to be a very composed person. If even Lin Zhen was losing control of his emotions now, then something serious must have happened.
Lin Zhen frowned at this and said, “It’s not that you’re not worthy of knowing, it’s just not the right time yet!”
“There should be news soon, just be patient a little longer.”
Although Lin Zhen didn’t like Wan Luo’s reckless attitude, he could only try to calm him down, since Wan Luo was an important transcendent to the Special Operations Unit.
Waiting was the most anxiety-inducing thing. After about forty minutes, Lin Zhen finally received news.
“It’s confirmed that there are similar arrays inside the Capital, with organs soaked in blood placed on the formations.”
And based on the number of organs, it was estimated that there were at least ten similar arrays in the Capital.
Once this news broke, it confirmed that Xu Zhi had not lied, and the Capital immediately began arranging an emergency evacuation.
“Should we leave too?” After confirming the news, Lin Zhen wanted to lead most of the team and evacuate with Xu Zhi, but unexpectedly—
“You all go. I’m staying here.”
The girl said this calmly, which he couldn’t understand.
“Stay here? Why?” he almost reflexively asked.
Xu Zhi didn’t answer but said, “Remember to prepare the core. After this is over, I’ll come get it.”
After spending a little time with Xu Zhi, Lin Zhen had somewhat figured out her personality: unless something that interests her happens, her decisions were final and wouldn’t be changed.
“Alright then.” Lin Zhen had no choice but to give in.
“Take care of yourself.”
After saying this, he ordered his subordinates to retreat.
Wan Luo, overhearing their conversation, was full of questions on his face and grabbed Lin Zhen’s arm. “You can tell me what’s going on now, right?”
Lin Zhen briefly explained: “There’s a cult setting up an array ritual here. Once activated, everyone left behind will die. So stop wasting time and evacuate quickly.”
“Then why isn’t she leaving?” Wan Luo pointed at Xu Zhi in confusion.
Isn’t she some big shot’s daughter? Leaving her alone in such a dangerous place—Lin Zhen really dares to do that?
Seeming to understand the meaning in Wan Luo’s eyes, Lin Zhen sighed helplessly. “Don’t worry about her. If you and I die, she won’t. Now hurry up and leave.”
At these words, Wan Luo’s expression became ridiculous, as if saying to Lin Zhen, “Are you kidding?”
He hadn’t sensed any danger from Xu Zhi.
One of his transcendent passive abilities was alertness; from the first time he met Xu Zhi, his perception was that she was “not dangerous.” Seeing her again, though she seemed stronger than before, she was still categorized as “not dangerous.”
Wan Luo didn’t know that was because Xu Zhi hadn’t invested enough cores yet.
“Fine, if she dies, don’t cry.”
He could see Lin Zhen was very nervous about Xu Zhi, the tension similar to when he met some big shot from the capital before.
“Better worry about yourself first.” Lin Zhen frowned, not knowing what kind of trouble the Capital had gotten itself into to end up with this.
“These cultists are crazy!”
Not only did they use live sacrifices, but now they were conducting such a large-scale ritual, and the strangest part was that the Capital hadn’t noticed before.
Had someone hidden the news?
This thought suddenly made Lin Zhen break out in a cold sweat during the evacuation.
Yeah, such a big operation, how could they be kept in the dark?
Besides the cultists being cautious, was the Special Operations Unit really flawless?
“Received news: the capital is sending an Omniscient one to the Capital.”
“Accompanied by four transcendent bodyguards for her safety.”
The capital suddenly sending an Omniscient one meant they had definitely learned what was happening in the Capital.
“Lin Zhen, arrange for the Omniscient one to meet Xu Zhi.”
Lin Zhen’s face turned bitter on receiving the order.
An Omniscient one, Xu Zhi—both were people he dared not offend. How was he supposed to arrange this meeting?
He sighed again.
The federation’s few Omniscient ones and Precognitives had all been called to the capital because they were too important. Much of the federation’s known “knowledge” related to the mysterious and transcendent came from high-level Omniscient ones, and the importance of Precognitives was obvious.
But why hadn’t the capital’s Precognitive known even a bit about this large-scale cult activity in the Capital and warned them in advance?
The more Lin Zhen thought, the more he suspected a conspiracy beyond his reach. It felt like a dark cloud hung over the Capital. He sighed and gave up thinking.
Anyway, if the sky falls, there’s a tall guy to bear it. For now, he just needed to hold onto his connection with Xu Zhi—that was a half life-saving charm. As long as the federation still needed to deal with Xu Zhi, and he didn’t mess up, he wouldn’t be easily abandoned.
After everyone else left, the area became silent. If the sky weren’t so clear, Xu Zhi might have thought she’d returned to Cloud City.
She stepped upstairs and returned to the floor where the array was.
Her memory wasn’t perfect, but if she wanted to remember something, she could recall most of it after one look.
Now she was carefully comparing the array with the diagram the assistant sacrificer had drawn to see where they differed.
But memorizing and comparing arrays was more mentally exhausting than reading, and she was currently in a spiritual body, which greatly limited her abilities. After roughly finishing the comparison and relaxing, she felt dizzy.
Xu Zhi had to stop and rest a while.
With the mindset of “I won’t die even if I die trying,” she stepped into the center of the array and picked up a carefully made jar.
The jar was sealed and contained a human heart, still faintly beating. When she touched it, she could still feel some warmth. She had to admit, this sensation was a bit disgusting.
After about two hours, Xu Zhi was starting to get bored there. Finally, the blood-drawn array began to emit the familiar red light.
“Ah, it’s finally starting.”
Xu Zhi stood still without dodging or moving, relying on her spiritual body. She wanted to experience what it felt like inside the array.
