155: Long table meeting, badge of honor, shocked high-level masters

After learning that Jiang Yuan had returned to the Martial Artist Guild, Zhang Wei quickly rushed over, ordered to bring him to the Patrol Division headquarters.

In the huge conference room, Bei Mingxue and others were holding a meeting.

So Zhang Wei waited outside with Jiang Yuan.

"For ordinary people, from the appearance of black spots on their faces to death, the shortest time is only a few hours, while the longest is three days."

"And under the effect of the Purification Array, the Black Curse within the human body can be removed to the greatest extent, reducing the degree of physical deterioration tenfold."

"But this also means that we only have a maximum of thirty days left."

Zhang Wei said, lighting a cigarette, "Now we are consolidating resources from all sides to expand the range of the Purification Array as much as possible, but the maximum range that can be achieved in a short time is only 1/10 the size of South River City."

"There will still be many people who cannot be covered, it's cruel, right?"

"Have you found the source?"

"Yes, it's in the Básuō River. Damn it, we knew the Abyss Believers were acting suspiciously around that river, and we checked so many times but found nothing. If we had found it earlier..."

Zhang Wei cursed, threw down the cigarette, and stomped on it.

"At least, at least we could have evacuated the people nearby. You don't know how miserably those civilians died in the first wave of outbreaks, truly miserable, corpses everywhere, falling down like stalks of straw..."

As Zhang Wei spoke, Jiang Yuan silently recalled a saying.

A grain of sand from the era, falling on a person's shoulder, is heavier than a mountain.

"What if we burn down that river?"

"It's useless. At most, it will prevent the curse from mutating further, but that's it. The spread has already happened."

Zhang Wei leaned against the wall, tilting his head back with a sigh.

"Where's Senior Sister Yan?" Jiang Yuan asked after a moment of silence.

"I don't know, maybe she went back to the Imperial Capital. We've been busy as hell lately. The Abyss Believers and the Mechanical God Cult's little brats keep popping up to cause trouble, and there's no time to breathe. Many people in our Patrol Division have died too. Yan Shan and Gu San, whom you met before, are both dead."

Jiang Yuan fell silent again.

"What if, and I mean what if,"

"even if everyone around you dies in this disaster, in the worst-case scenario, the entire City might be annihilated, what would you do?"

Jiang Yuan said calmly, "I won't let that happen."

"What if?"

"Become stronger with all my might, and annihilate the Abyss in madness and slaughter."

"Hahaha, well said."

Zhang Wei patted his shoulder.

"Young people with potential like you must live well. One day you can avenge them."

"I said, I won't let that happen."

Jiang Yuan said firmly.

After learning that his parents and Mo Xixi's family were within the Purification Array, and the Black Curse wouldn't erupt for a short time, giving them some time.

He didn't give up.

There was still hope for everything.

"Buzz."

The metal door opened.

A young man with squinted eyes and a slender figure came before the two, curiously sizing up Jiang Yuan.

"You are Jiang Yuan?"

"Who are you?"

"Deputy Commander of the Imperial Capital Imperial Guard, Deputy Commander Jun Jing," the young man said, "Come in with me."

Jiang Yuan walked in.

In the spacious conference room, seven or eight people were seated on either side of a long table, including Qin Nantian, Lu Beili, the black-robed Magician, Luo Ningyan, and a few others Jiang Yuan didn't recognize.

Judging by their aura, no one present was below Eighth-Order.

Even the Guild Leader of the Silver Wolf Guild and Liu He were not qualified to attend this meeting.

Bei Mingxue sat at the end of the long table, raising her eyes to look at the young man walking in.

The young man's black hair was loose, his appearance handsome and heroic, his golden eyes bright and sharp, yet as clear and transparent as crystal, as if just looking at him would cause a burn; his mental power surged outwards, and his dense life magnetic field was as dazzling as a blazing flame.

His aura is getting stronger and stronger... He truly has an invincible might that can sweep through the current era...

Luo Ningyan thought to herself, her beautiful eyes filled with satisfaction and appreciation.

Wait!! Something's wrong!

How can I not feel his mental power anymore?

Void, empty, lofty.

Upon realizing this, a huge wave of shock instantly surged in the beautiful woman's heart, and a conjecture that she found hard to believe surfaced.

Could his current mental power... be above hers?!

The others looked at this young Prodigy who had won the titles of strongest Second-Order and Third-Order, destined to be recorded in history and become a legend, their eyes also flickering, wondering what they were thinking.

Bei Mingxue stood up: "Hello, Jiang Yuan, I am Bei Mingxue, Commander of the Imperial Capital Imperial Guard."

"Please sit."

Jiang Yuan nodded and sat down in an empty seat.

"Are your injuries healed?" Bei Mingxue asked.

Not only did he survive a blow from a demigod-level being, but he also recovered to this state in just three days, which she found incredible.

Jiang Yuan: "Almost..."

Bei Mingxue: "So you haven't fully recovered yet?"

She waved her jade hand.

Three items radiating treasure light appeared in front of Jiang Yuan.

"This is Spirit Communication Profound Heart Grass, a Ninth-Order Soul healing spiritual material that can help you repair your spiritual Domain."

"In this bucket is ten kilograms of Scarlet Blood Divine Ginseng Liquid, used to help you recover from injuries and replenish consumed potential."

"And a super-grade life crystal worth over a hundred million."

"These are your rewards."

Under Jiang Yuan's astonished gaze, Bei Mingxue continued: "At the same time, the Ten Ministers Association highly evaluates Jiang Yuan's amazing performance in this Abyss Invasion incident and his Merits (merit) in saving tens of thousands of people. After discussion, they have decided to bestow upon you the Azure Dragon Badge, which represents the glory of Great Xia Martial Artists."

Honor badges are awarded for outstanding contributions.

Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, with the red badge being the highest and the purple the lowest.

Holders of the badge not only have higher authority and access to some confidential forbidden areas, but also enjoy national benefits and receive more protection and resource tilt (support).

Simply put, they don't even have to go to jail for killing people.

Jiang Yuan received the Azure Dragon Badge emitting a cyan glow; its attributes were comparable to high-grade dark gold accessories, but the meaning it represented was far above its attributes.

Under the envious gazes of Luo Ningyan and others, Jiang Yuan unceremoniously accepted the treasures in front of him.

He looked at Bei Mingxue and asked directly, "Commander Bei, I want to know the method to eliminate the Black Curse."

"We also want to know the answer to this question," Bei Mingxue said, "According to the latest investigation, the creator of the Black Curse is likely the Crow Mask Doctor of the Church of Suffering, who is Eighth-Order. And the source of the curse is likely Abyss Believers belonging to the Yin Lord lineage."

"Yin Lord..." Jiang Yuan's eyes flickered, remembering the Yin Lord's curse before leaving the college entrance examination instance.

It actually came true!

"If we eliminate the Yin Lord, can we stop this disaster?" Jiang Yuan asked.

"It's possible, but it's basically impossible," Bei Mingxue said with a bitter smile, "To eliminate a Deep Abyss Lord of that level, at least two Great Xia Kings must be mobilized, and they will have to pay some price."

"Moreover..." Qin Nantian spoke, "Moreover, it might break the current situation and lead to a major war between the Abyss and Great Xia."

"So because you fear the outbreak of war, you will endure humiliation and sacrifice millions of people?!" Jiang Yuan was somewhat incredulous.

Is this still the Great Xia built with flesh and blood?

Bei Mingxue retorted, "It's not a sacrifice, but rather looking for a better way."

"If it comes to a point where we have to, even if a major war breaks out, we will act, I promise you."

"Provided that no other unforeseen circumstances occur in between..." the black-robed Magician said faintly, "For example, the Mechanical God Cult."

"Mechanical God Cult?" Bei Mingxue looked at Jiang Yuan's confused eyes and explained, "We received news that the Mechanical God Cult seems to be preparing to use the Souls of one million people as sacrifices to create a King-level mechanical life form."

"What?!" Jiang Yuan's expression changed slightly.

He remembered that Sixth-Order mechanical monster and knew how troublesome and powerful the opponent was, far exceeding human Martial Artists and ferocious beasts of the same rank.

Wait.

Suddenly, Jiang Yuan remembered his newly acquired SSS-rank Talent—Mechanical Overlord!

The power to assimilate all machinery...

Could it be that his current self... would actually be very effective against them?

"So we are discussing a plan to encircle and suppress them before they act," Bei Mingxue said, "If this matter is not handled well, it will make the current situation even worse and more serious."

"Jiang Yuan, do you want to participate?" Qin Nantian asked with a smile.

"What a joke, no matter how high his talent is, he is only Fourth-Order," a man completely wrapped in black cloth like a mummy said, "And this operation requires at least Eighth-Order strength."

"Don't underestimate him! His power is comparable to an Eighth-Order Martial Artist; even the Performer of the Church of Suffering died at his hands. He might be even stronger than you."

Qin Nantian said, laughing heartily.

Compared to what happened at Martial Arts No. 1 High School, this was public information.

"What?!" Several people besides Qin Nantian exclaimed in shock.

Including Luo Ningyan and Commander Bai Tu, who guarded the City, all looked at the black-haired young man sitting at the other end of the long table with disbelief.

The young man's expression was calm, his golden eyes as still as water.