52: A trap set by the provincial demon suppression department?

Merit points, this thing is really interesting.

Li Dong looked at the dazzling number on his identity token, and for the first time, he felt that all those days of being as tired as a sick donkey that had ploughed eighty mu of land in three days were worth it.

He used this enormous sum of merit points to forcefully open a door—a qualification to participate in a “Core Area Extermination Mission.”

This place was right under the nose of the Prefecture Demon Suppression Division stronghold, a strictly designated forbidden underground area that had been sealed off for a long time.

Just by its name, it exuded an “Advanced” aura.

Just as he confirmed the qualification exchange and received that thin mission brief, the System in his mind suddenly rang out inappropriately, and it was a series of calls.

“Beep! Warning! The target mission area’s energy fluctuations are abnormally complex, and the chaos and pollution levels far exceed conventional standards, posing an extremely high unknown risk! It is recommended that the host carefully evaluate!”

“Beep! High-risk environment alert! High concentrations of a special spice scent detected in the target area! Concentration Rank: Extremely High! Repeat, Extremely High!”

Li Dong’s hand, holding the mission brief, froze.

Special spice!

And in high concentration!

Damn it!

He would recognize that smell even if it turned to ash!

The controlled giant python in Mu Shi County’s Black Wind Ridge, Zhao Zhen’s sinister confidant, the strengthened demonic spiders in the abandoned mine outside the city that seemed to be on steroids... Now, this smell appeared again in the core sealed-off area near the Demon Suppression Division stronghold!

The clues all connected at once!

This was not some ordinary extermination mission at all; this was a meticulously designed trap! A huge pit dug specifically for him, or rather, for anyone who tried to approach that secret!

He immediately lowered his head and carefully re-examined the mission dossier.

The description on it was incredibly vague and ambiguous.

It only mentioned exterminating “mutated demons” that appeared in the area and required participants to “thoroughly eliminate anomalies.”

Even more absurd was that the personnel participating in this mission were all temporarily seconded from various departments, a motley crew, and the dossier didn’t even specify who was in charge of this operation!

This was simply inconceivable in the Demon Suppression Division’s operational procedures!

Which slightly important operation wasn’t assigned to specific individuals with clear command?

This time, it was a “temporary worker” free-for-all, without even a leader.

It was clearly problematic!

Li Dong’s heart instantly chilled by half.

He had a strong premonition that what he would face this time would probably not be as simple as “mutated demons.”

What did high concentrations of the special spice mean?

It meant that this place was very likely one of those people’s strongholds in the Prefecture, or even the core location for their Forbidden Experiments!

Those so-called “mutated demons” might very well be the products of their failed experiments, or simply terrifying monsters catalyzed and strengthened by that spice!

Their strength... had probably long exceeded the scope of the ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm!

It might even... involve higher-Rank powers!

Give up?

This thought only flashed through Li Dong’s mind for a moment before he extinguished it.

He knew this place was dangerous enough to take his life.

But at the same time, this was also the closest he had ever been to the truth!

The discovery of the mine, the hints from Senior Wang and Old Sun, the powder from the altar... all clues pointed to a dark force hidden within the Demon Suppression Division, conducting Forbidden Experiments using the special spice.

Now, this place almost laid the answer before him, although the answer was wrapped in a layer of deadly poison.

If he missed this opportunity, who knew how long he would have to wait to find such a chance again?

Perhaps by then, he would have long been silently “dealt with” by those rats hiding in the dark.

Damn it, let’s do it!

Fortune favors the bold, and so does truth!

He steeled his heart and decided to take on this hot potato.

Of course, he wouldn’t foolishly go to his death; he had to make thorough preparations and use every life-saving method he could think of.

On the way to the mission assembly point, Li Dong’s peripheral vision keenly caught a few familiar figures.

It was those few people from Lin Fan’s faction, Zhao, Sun, and the like.

They pretended to appear casually in the distance, but their gazes, like poisoned nails, occasionally darted towards him.

Their eyes held a mixture of undisguised schadenfreude and... a certain morbid anticipation.

Heh, it seems these guys really know the inside story of this mission.

Are they so certain that once he goes in this time, he won’t come out alive?

The pot is ready, just waiting for the turtle?

Li Dong sneered inwardly, but his face remained calm, as if he was completely unaware of everything around him.

He walked with steady steps towards the designated assembly point.

After turning a corner and confirming no one was currently paying attention, he quickly took out a specially made communication jade Talisman from his embrace, swiftly carving an encrypted Talisman on it with his fingertips, and sent out a short message.

The recipient was Zhang Wu, far away in Mu Shi County.

The content was simple: I will be entering a sealed area near the Demon Suppression Division with the codename “Earth Abyss” to perform an urgent mission.

This place is suspected to be core-related to the spice incident, and the risk is extremely high.

If no message is sent within twelve hours, please thoroughly investigate this place and decide on subsequent actions independently, always prioritizing safety.

After doing all this, he put away the jade Talisman, checked the Demon Suppression Ruler hidden in his sleeve, and then touched the few life-saving Talismans at the bottom of his chest, before continuing forward.

The entrance to the mission area was set before an extremely hidden underground passage.

The passage entrance was sealed by heavy refined iron gates, surrounded by visible and hidden sentries, and the guard force indeed looked “strict.”

But as Li Dong approached, he keenly sensed something was amiss.

These guards... their Qi was a bit unstable, their stances seemed standard, but they exuded a deliberate stiffness.

The Evil Qi on them was very faint, not like veterans who had performed dangerous missions for years, but more like... temporary fillers, window dressing?

This defense seemed more like a performance, a cover-up.

“Identity token.” A Demon Suppression Guard in charge of registration held out his hand expressionlessly.

Li Dong handed over his token, and after the other party verified it, he waved his hand.

“Go in.”

Accompanied by a dull clanking sound, the heavy refined iron gate slowly rose, revealing the dark passage behind it.

Almost at the instant the gate opened, an indescribable aura suddenly rushed out from the depths of the passage!

Bone-chillingly cold, as if it could freeze the Soul.

Chaotic and violent, like an aggregate of countless resentments and madness.

And that sickeningly strong smell of death!

As well as... that all too familiar, almost solidified, special spice scent!

This smell was more than ten times stronger than what he had smelled in the mine!

Li Dong stood at the mouth of the passage, as if facing a giant abyss that would devour him.

He knew that taking this step meant throwing himself into a completely unknown desperate situation.

What awaited him ahead would surely be terrifying existences far beyond his imagination, and unpredictable, deadly crises!

He gripped the Demon Suppression Ruler in his hand and stepped into the profound darkness.