89: Yong'an Thousand Households

Devilish Qi.

It appeared three hundred years ago, alongside the Abyss.

The original Devilish Qi was extremely corrosive; whether it was plants, animals, or Professionals, once they came into contact with it, their entire bodies would feel as if they were being pricked by needles.

After penetrating the body, it would corrode the Meridians, internal organs, and various other systems.

If it were an ordinary creature, they would die within a second or two, and then their bodies would slowly be corroded, turning into nourishment for the Devilish Qi.

Because of their powerful Physique attributes, Professionals could endure for much longer, which meant they died even more painfully.

This kind of Devilish Qi was called Primordial Devilish Qi.

Later, through dilution by the air and modification via Demon-Melding Liquid, its terrifying corrosive ability was eliminated.

The price, however, was that the Devilish Qi's pollution capacity was demonstrated to its fullest extent.

Xu Le pondered as he flew.

A problem-solver's heart, a problem-solver's soul.

True problem-solving isn't about doing every single problem, but about understanding the examiner's intent and summarizing the patterns.

“So, the most important thing right now isn't escaping for survival, but figuring out the purpose of constructing this dungeon.”

“They couldn't just create a poison circle to make us kill each other, right?”

Xu Le's thoughts drifted, and he immediately dismissed that idea.

A real poison circle should close in from all sides, simply urging all players to play the game actively.

It shouldn't be like this, where a large number of players are killed by the poison circle before they even start fighting each other, or even directly wiping out short-legged classes.

“Primordial Devilish Qi, moving from south to north...”

“Wait, could this be a reenactment of the history of Blue Star?”

“Then what is it testing?”

“Unity? Humanity? Not forgetting history, forging ahead...”

“There's too little information; further extraction is needed.”

Xu Le continued to fly forward. After flying for two consecutive days, the scenery before him finally changed.

A majestic giant city appeared before his eyes.

The city was 20 meters high, with a length of 12,000 meters and a width of 8,000 meters.

If he weren't high in the sky, it would be difficult to see the full extent of this giant city.

A group of soldiers wearing uniform black military uniforms were setting up a Formation. Looking at their style, they were somewhat similar to the current Great Wall Guard Army.

“There are actually soldiers here; there must be civilians in the city as well.”

“Is making us experience this dungeon meant to test our character and ability?”

“After the Devilish Qi, will there be a demonic creature siege?”

Xu Le was lost in thought when he felt an irresistible suction pull him to the ground.

The soldiers surrounded him with weapons.

“There's an Anti-Air Formation here, be careful in the future...”

The leader looked to be in his thirties, with a high bridge to his nose and sharp eyes. He wore a dark black robe embroidered with gold patterns, appearing quite majestic, yet he spoke very kindly.

Xu Le's heart stirred, and he activated the 'Divine Eye'. The other party's information popped up.

【Name】 Xing Manshan

【Age】 68

【Class】 Lord of Raging Sands (SSS)

【Rank】 99

【Health】 36,000/36,000

【Mana】 108,000/108,000

【Strength】 995

【Agility】 995

【Physique】 2,485

【Spirit】 7,948

【Skills】 Turning Sand into Soldiers, Gathering Sand into a Pagoda, Yellow Sand Storm, Flowing Sand Yellow Sea, Sand Shadow Swap, Life Link, Flying Sand and Stones, Sand Escape, Raging Sand Clone

‘Not only do his speech and movements seem like a real person, but even the Divine Eye can't find any flaws. He's practically an Immortal Master.’

‘Wait, Xing Manshan!’

‘Isn't this the founder of the Great Wall Guard Army and the City Lord of Yongan City?’

Xu Le was greatly shocked. He looked up at the giant city, and on it were carved three large characters: “Yongan City”.

It was like a clap of thunder striking Xu Le's head.

He finally confirmed that the Xing Manshan before him was the Xing Manshan from three hundred years ago.

He had to admit, the dungeon constructed by the Great Zhou was truly impressive. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought he had undergone Transmigration again.

In that instant, he roughly guessed the examiner's intention.

Xu Le did not hide anything and spoke about the Devilish Qi.

The soldiers were somewhat flustered, but Xing Manshan smiled and waved his hand.

“Just as Old Qin said. Haha, now that the final piece of the Formation diagram is complete, we can surely block the Devilish Qi outside.”

In history, this Formation eventually failed.

The corrosiveness of the Devilish Qi was too strong. After only seven days, the Formation patterns were completely corroded from the outside in.

This was the most important chapter of the New World, and Xu Le remembered it clearly.

Glancing at the soldiers who had settled down, he didn't say it directly but instead cast 'Mind Link' on Xing Manshan.

Xing Manshan looked at Xu Le with some surprise and chose to accept.

The mental channel was successfully established.

“City Lord Xing, the Devilish Qi is extremely corrosive. It will directly corrode the Formation patterns. It cannot be blocked!”

Even if it was a virtual dungeon, Xu Le did not want to see a giant city of tens of millions of people slaughtered by Devilish Qi.

“It can last for seven days? That's one day more than the expected six days. That's enough!”

???

Xu Le felt a wave of confusion. Even if he looked righteous, a dignified City Lord wouldn't believe him upon meeting and tell him this secret, right?

Xing Manshan smiled and didn't explain.

Xu Le knew he had a Plan B. Unfortunately, it wasn't written in the books, but the result was inevitably failure!

Xing Manshan exited the Mind Link, pointed to the nearby city gate, and said with a smile: “I see you have some skill. Are you willing to join my command as a Household Head and help me guard the Dingnan Gate?”

Becoming a Household Head so hastily?

Was it a reward from the dungeon for being the first to arrive at Yongan City?

Otherwise, if the City Lord were him, even if his own son were extremely strong, he wouldn't let him be a Household Head without military experience.

Yongan City had thirteen city gates in total. Letting him guard one so easily was truly hard to believe.

Seeing Xu Le's hesitation, Xing Manshan smiled and said: “It doesn't matter if you're unfamiliar with military affairs. There are two Deputy Household Heads to help you strategize. The ten Company Commanders and Trial Baihus under your command are also well-versed in military life; nothing will go wrong.”

These words almost explicitly said: as long as you're not a 'micromanagement expert', even if you do nothing, it won't affect the battle.

Once, Xu Le felt he loathed such ignorant fools being promoted to high positions.

Now, he suddenly felt that superiors had their own considerations; those at the bottom don't see as much as the leaders, so just execute orders obediently.

“I shall not fail my mission!” Xu Le cupped his hands. He would be a fool not to agree.

The higher the status, the greater the influence on the situation.

Besides, if he didn't dare to take a gamble in a dungeon, wouldn't he be useless in reality?

To refuse a gift from heaven is to invite disaster!

Soon.

Xu Le, now wearing the Household Head uniform, met his two subordinates.

Shen Qianshan, Rank 83 Great Axe Berserker (SS-Rank).

Hu Xiaoyu, Rank 82 Iron Brush Painting Master (SS-Rank).

Under their guidance, he quickly met the ten Company Commanders and Trial Baihus under him.

They were all experts around Rank 75, and even the soldiers under them were over Rank 60.

However, whether it was the dungeon setting or Xing Manshan's prestige being too high, the group showed no hostility toward him, a Rank 68 commander who had been dropped in out of nowhere.

Hu Xiaoyu reminded: “Household Head Xu, Deputy City Lord Qin has predicted that the Demonic Calamity will officially descend the evening after next. During this period, we only need to keep a quarter of our brothers on duty in two shifts.”

Everyone present was an Advanced Professional; they could stay up for seven consecutive days if needed.

However, Xu Le did not refute Hu Xiaoyu's suggestion. As a non-Professional, he had to have some self-awareness.

He thought to himself: “In two days, the Demonic Calamity will descend!”