Chapter 212 - 211: Support

Sheng Yue’s arrival was expected, yet it was like a shark breaking free from the ocean to charge into a shallow lake.

A single flick of that shark’s tail sent massive ripples through the hearts of both Ling Yanzhi and Xi Yu.

Xi Yu hugged Yang Zhang, his gaze lowered.

He hadn’t succeeded.

He was still number three.

Ling Yanzhi opened the window to the cold wind. His collar was open, revealing his sharply-defined collarbones.

His rebellious, hostile expression was now tinged with a hint of gloom.

A mix of unease from being outmatched, the sting of being ignored, and a heavy, frustrated gloom churned endlessly in his heart.

Lin Yu left the cockpit and walked into the command room, carrying two sets of school uniforms.

His eyes swept upwards, past the squatting Xi Yu, and landed on Ling Yanzhi.

"Chief, everything is ready."

Ling Yanzhi closed the window. "Ayue and I will go in first to check out the situation. You and your men wait outside the school to provide support."

A bitter feeling pricked his heart, but he forcefully suppressed it with reason.

He gazed down at Star Source City. "Ayue, change your clothes."

"Oh." Xi Yu stood up. As his long legs straightened, his shadow stretched out behind him.

He took off his casual jacket and changed into the dark gray school uniform he was holding.

Lin Yu sent a location marker. "The academy’s defense systems are average. I’ll set off an explosion here to create a diversion."

No matter how secretly they operated, after so many large-scale investigations, it was inevitable that word would get out.

The Planet Master of Emperor Source Star was away. The higher-ups at Linxing Academy had initially refused the Alliance’s request to investigate, but then they had abnormally agreed to let them in.

It was better for just two of them to go in, in case there were any traps.

The Starship landed.

Ling Yanzhi changed into the Linxing Academy uniform. His perpetually ice-cold eyes now held some of the docility of a university student.

He fiddled with the ring on his finger, his eyelids drooping slightly. His long, sparse lashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes.

Xi Yu patted down his clothes, his sullen face filled with disdain. "This is ugly."

Yang Zhang, nestled on his shoulder, pawed at the fabric, equally disdainful.

The door opened, and the two of them flew out swiftly.

Lin Yu quickly sent the signal to his men.

With a deafening BOOM, Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi’s figures slipped through the blasted-open passageway.

"WEE-WOO—" An alarm blared.

Two rows of people in military attire quickly assembled.

Ling Yanzhi concealed his presence and landed on the roof.

He looked down, his brow tightly furrowed.

Xi Yu followed him, his gaze fixed on the scene below.

The air instantly seemed to freeze. The scene before them was like a faded, lifeless painting, so suffocating it stole the breath away.

Thousands of Awakeners moved like uniformly formatted robots, their gazes vacant, their blinks mechanical, their steps stiff.

Red Snake turned its head. "It looks like everyone here has been parasitized."

They weren’t dummies; they were sweating. But as beads of sweat dripped down, not a single person raised a hand to wipe it away.

If Jian Yu were here, she might have smelled the thick stench of rotting flesh.

Yang Zhang tossed a small apple back and forth between its paws. "There are no High-level Soul Ghost Bodies. Their Levels are all below D. Should we make a move?"

Ling Yanzhi opened his Star Brain to file a report.

He pulled Xi Yu along. "Let’s go check somewhere else."

On the lecture platform, a teacher was reading from a script, his face devoid of expression.

His voice was flat, his tone as straight and unvarying as a line.

He stared at the textbook, reciting it word for word, his eyes hollow and vacant.

Every glance over the students, every question, every smile was stiff, as if he were merely mimicking a normal human.

It was pure mimicry. He clearly didn’t expect any answers from the students. The commands to rise and be seated were rigid and dull.

Ling Yanzhi retracted his gaze, his expression cold and grim.

Red Snake had no fur, but it inexplicably felt its nonexistent hackles rise. [Have this many people really been parasitized?]

Yang Zhang retracted its little claws. [The one with the highest Level is that person over there, but he’s only an A.]

Xi Yu’s eyes shifted, and he stared into a corner.

There was a man there dressed like an administrator.

He wore a smile that never once faltered.

It was a smile practiced countless times, like one on a wax figure in a museum. Even the curve of his lips didn’t shift in the slightest.

Red Snake warned, [Someone’s coming.]

Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi hid.

The man who entered was of an even higher Level: 2S.

He didn’t have the deathly aura of a Soul Ghost Body, which meant he had one chance at revival.

"Good morning, students."

His every move was remarkably human.

Red Snake exclaimed, [He seems so human!]

Yang Zhang pressed close to Xi Yu’s earlobe. [He’s the only one talking.]

The Netherworld Energy of the Soul Ghosts permeated the sealed classroom. Time itself seemed to have lost all meaning here.

A death knell of despair echoed mournfully.

Ling Yanzhi zipped away. [Red Snake, see if you can find any normal people.]

Xi Yu hesitated for a moment, then hurried to follow.

Linxing Academy couldn’t be the first place to be infested by Soul Ghosts.

There were surely many more Soul Ghosts breeding in dark, unseen corners.

A planet’s destruction is like a great, decaying tree. It doesn’t just suddenly collapse. Instead, insects breed within it, gnawing away at its roots, bit by bit. Only when it can no longer bear the strain does it finally come crashing down.

The Mutant Beast tide hadn’t even begun, yet the Soul Ghosts had already infiltrated, eagerly gnawing at the very foundations and turning people into puppets.

Red Snake: [Yanyan, nothing over here.]

Yang Zhang tilted its head back. [Nothing here, either.]

Ling Yanzhi’s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists.

Xi Yu said, "They wouldn’t have dared to agree to our investigation unless there were still normal people alive."

Ling Yanzhi recalled Red Snake. "Mm."

’I wonder how smart the Soul Ghost controlling this place is.’

’Lin Yu has already received the approval for the investigation. If we don’t show up to conduct it this afternoon, the Soul Ghosts might get suspicious.’

’We have to get support from the Alliance first.’

...

「Digital Planet 312.」

Yuge circled in the air.

Si Xu was praying for his followers.

Below him, a dense crowd had gathered, all waiting to receive free medicine.

The sound of his compassionate chanting filled the space, and the ethereal songs of the Yuge rose to accompany it.

Duan Feiye finished his own investigation and hurried over to rendezvous with Si Xu.

Just then, a Star Brain Floating Screen popped up.

[Interstellar Alliance · Highest Authority · Red Alert. Target Star Domain: Emperor Source Star. Target Location: Linxing Academy Affiliated High School.]

[Verification confirmed: A large number of students at this school have been parasitized by Soul Ghosts. The infestation is currently expanding at a rapid rate. The academy is completely out of control.]

[All interstellar law enforcement officers, Awakeners, and Treatment Teams receiving this notification are to immediately initiate an emergency warp jump. Proceed to the Linxing Academy Affiliated High School on Emperor Source Star to execute the mission: purge the Soul Ghosts and rescue all survivors.]

[Soul Ghosts pose an extreme threat to those with weak spiritual power. All personnel must activate a Spirit Barrier before taking action. Do not enter high-density infection zones such as academic buildings or dormitories alone. Priority is to protect and evacuate un-parasitized students.]

—Interstellar Alliance Alien Disaster Response Agency.

Pei Yin received the message, his brow furrowed in a tight knot.

He had just wanted to go home and pack, not expecting to receive an emergency alert.

"Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. You can’t go back on our deal. I’m tired of playing with this woman, but I have another. I’ll send the other one over to you tonight."

A familiar, nauseating voice.

Pei Yin stopped in his tracks.

He charged in, his first punch flying straight at Pei Yongshen.

Pei Yongshen took the blow head-on, and a bone-deep numbness shot up his arm.