78: Chapter 78 The Book of Rules

"From now on, everyone remain on high alert, prepared to evacuate Shancheng at any moment."

Although everyone was confused about why they suddenly had to evacuate, they still obediently followed orders and went to pack up.

Zhou Che stood at the entrance of the camp, gazing at the distant, mist-shrouded main city, his brows furrowing slightly.

He had a strong premonition that a turn of events was imminent.

Staying in this place for even one more second was dangerous.

Night fell, and the blood moon hung high.

The scarlet moonlight spilled over the entire Shancheng, carrying an air of eerie silence.

Zhou Che sat in the RV, toying with the book of rules that was disguised in gold.

He opened the system panel, wanting to check the detailed information of the strange object again.

At that glance, he froze.

[strange object: book of rules (Volume 1)]

[Ranking: 50]

[Status: Inactive]

"50?" Zhou Che's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Wasn't it supposed to be in the top ten?

How is it only ranked 50?

He slapped his thigh hard, so frustrated he nearly jumped up.

"Damn it! What a huge loss!"

After all that, this isn't the top-ten strange object at all!

He had just been overthinking it!

The top-ten strange object was still in Jiangdong Library!

He had actually missed it!

If only he had known, he would have searched a few more floors!

If only he had known, he would have checked the system prompts more carefully!

Zhou Che beat his chest and stomped his feet, his guts filled with regret.

He had thought he'd picked up a massive bargain, but it turned out to be just a top-50 strange object.

Although it was still very profitable, it was far inferior compared to a top-ten strange object.

Beside him, Captain Liu Ruyan and Ruan Xiaoxiao watched him laughing and then looking frustrated, acting as if he had gone mad, and exchanged bewildered glances.

"Mr. Zhou, are you alright?" Captain Liu Ruyan asked cautiously.

"I'm fine." Zhou Che sighed, masking the frustration on his face.

Forget it; what's done is done, and there's no use regretting it now.

A top-50 strange object wasn't bad; after all, it only cost some worthless Transcendent materials.

It was still better than getting nothing at all.

And looking at the name, book of rules (Volume 1), there must certainly be a middle volume and a lower volume.

Perhaps if he collected all three, it could become a top-ten strange object.

Thinking this, Zhou Che felt a little more balanced.

He looked at the system panel again, wanting to see how to activate this strange object.

He clicked the "Inactive" button, and a line of small text popped up:

"Absorbing energy from heaven and earth. Once energy absorption is complete, it will automatically activate."

"Damn, it's this advanced?" Zhou Che's eyes lit up.

His blood moon scepter required him to manually infuse it with Transcendent power to use it.

This book of rules could actually absorb energy and activate itself!

As expected of a high-ranking strange object; it was truly different.

Just then.

"Boom!"

A deafening sound came from the direction of the West Bank.

Immediately after, a pillar of golden light shot up from the West Bank, piercing the sky!

The golden light was brilliant, illuminating half the night sky, even outshining the light of the blood moon.

The entire East Bank camp instantly erupted in chaos.

Everyone rushed out of their tents, looking up at the golden pillar of light on the West Bank, their faces filled with shock and envy.

"It's a strange object! A top-ten strange object has appeared!"

"My God! Such bright golden light! It must be a top-ten one!"

"Damn it! If I had known, I would have gone to the West Bank! Staying on the East Bank, we won't get anything!"

"I'm dying of envy! I wonder which faction is lucky enough to get a top-ten strange object!"

Everyone was clamoring, beating their chests and stomping their feet, all regretting their decision to choose the East Bank.

Zhou Che also stood at the doorway of the RV, gazing at the golden light on the West Bank, his heart skipping a beat.

Could the real top-ten strange object have gone to the West Bank?

That wasn't right; Captain Ma Shangwu had clearly said the strange object would appear at Jiangdong Library.

Just as he was puzzled,

"Boom!"

Another deafening sound came from the North Bank.

A second pillar of golden light shot into the sky!

It echoed the pillar of light on the West Bank, equally brilliant and dazzling!

At this, the entire East Bank fell completely silent.

Everyone was dumbfounded, their mouths agape, staring at the two golden pillars of light in the sky.

"Two… two?"

"How can there be two top-ten strange objects?"

"Didn't they say there was only one golden book? How did two appear?"

"What on earth is going on?"

Everyone was bewildered, their minds blank.

Two top-ten strange objects had actually appeared at the same time?

Zhou Che was also stunned.

"Two?"

"How could there be two?"

He subconsciously touched the book of rules in his arms.

Upon touching it, his expression changed instantly.

The book of rules in his arms was burning hot!

The system notification sounded frantically.

[book of rules (Volume 1) energy absorption complete, activating!]

[book of rules (Volume 1) activating… 10%… 30%… 70%…]

Zhou Che looked down.

The golden cover that had originally been on the outside was rapidly melting away.

The pure black body of the book began to emit a faint golden light.

And the golden light was becoming brighter and more dazzling!

In a few more seconds, it would shoot up into the sky just like the ones on the West Bank and North Bank!

Zhou Che's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

It's over!

If this golden light also shot up, everyone on the East Bank would know the strange object was in his hands!

Then every The Convoy would swarm over to snatch it from him!

Even with his twelve Transcendents, he couldn't stop that many people!

"What should I do?"

"What should I do?"

Just at this critical moment, the system notification sounded again.

[book of rules (Volume 1) activation successful!]

[Ability: Can write rules in the book, which will take effect for a short period.]

Zhou Che's mind raced.

Write rules!

Yes! Write rules!

He immediately pulled out the book of rules, bit his finger, and used his blood to quickly write two words on the blank first page:

"Conceal Breath"

The moment the characters were written,

the golden light on the book of rules suddenly extinguished.

The burning hot body of the book also rapidly cooled down.

The aura of the strange object that it had been emitting vanished without a trace.

The entire book became plain and unremarkable, just like an ordinary old book.

Zhou Che let out a long sigh of relief, his back already soaked in cold sweat.

That was close!

He had almost been exposed!

Fortunately, he had reacted quickly.

He looked up at the sky.

The golden light on the West Bank and North Bank was still shining into the sky.

Deafening shouts and explosions came from the opposite bank.

Clearly, all the The Convoys had gone mad, surging toward the direction of the golden pillars of light.

Everyone's eyes were bloodshot for the sake of the top-ten strange objects.

The The Convoys on the East Bank watched the commotion on the opposite bank, stomping their feet in anxiety, yet they were helpless.

The natural barrier of the Yun River meant they simply couldn't cross.

They could only stand where they were, watching helplessly as others snatched the opportunity.

"Damn it! This is truly eight lifetimes of bad luck! Choosing such a crappy place!"

"We didn't get anything! We came to Shancheng for nothing!"

"If I had known, I would have gone to the West Bank with the Mechanical City!"

Curses rose one after another, filled with unwillingness and regret.

No one knew that the third strange object they were longing for was currently lying quietly in Zhou Che's arms.

And no one knew that in this battle for the strange objects that was sweeping through the entire Shancheng,

the biggest winner had already quietly packed his bags.

He was preparing to leave this dead zone silently at the height of the chaos.

Zhou Che gripped the book of rules in his hand tightly, his eyes sharp.

It was time to leave.