229: Chapter 229 Close your eyes when it gets dark!

"I know something happened to Chu Xuan, but he just instructed me that no one is allowed to enter."

Tang Zheng spoke in a low voice. Seeing that He Jun, though slowing his pace, was still approaching, his expression turned cold. "Old man, I advise you to stop. Don't come any closer!"

"Idiot!"

He Jun showed a look of urgency. "There is an S-rank Specter inside his body, and it's highly likely it's recovering right now. We must go in and stop it."

"I don't care about any of that; I only believe what Chu Xuan said! Don't think that just because you're an old man, I won't strike. I've been punching kindergartens and kicking nursing homes since I was a kid. I don't care about your 'respecting the elderly' nonsense!"

Tang Zheng raised a hand and pointed, shouting coldly, "I'm warning you one last time: stay back!"

"Rebellious! You dare strike at me?" He Jun's face was as black as an iron pot. Gritting his teeth, he continued to take a few more steps forward.

"Damn it, talking nicely to you just doesn't work, does it?!" Tang Zheng spat fiercely. Light suddenly erupted around his body, and he vanished from the spot instantly.

Bang!!

With a thunderous explosion, a shield over half a person tall burst apart on the spot.

He Jun hurriedly retreated over twenty meters, all the way back to the underground entrance where Zhang Qiang and the others were. He looked up abruptly, staring at Tang Zheng ahead with a mix of shock and fury.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"Of course I do."

Tang Zheng slowly withdrew his fist, the light around him gradually dimming. He then unhurriedly pulled his phone from his pocket, searched for a moment, and played a piece of edited, nonsensical music.

[You bad old man, you bad old man...]

As the music echoed from the phone, everyone couldn't help but show strange expressions.

Tang Zheng said indifferently, "That was the final warning. If there's a next time, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"What kind of spell did Chu Xuan cast on you to make you so obedient? Have you carefully considered the consequences of what you're doing?" He Jun's old face turned even darker, looking as though he were truly incensed.

"Chu Xuan is my little brother. As his big brother, shouldn't I look out for him?" Tang Zheng crossed his arms over his chest, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"But he is very likely controlled by a Specter right now!" He Jun roared. "By blocking us, you're only hurting him, not helping him. Don't you understand?"

"I don't understand."

Tang Zheng said with a cold face, "I only know that Chu Xuan explicitly said not to let anyone in. So as long as I'm standing here, I won't let anyone pass!"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

He Jun pointed at Tang Zheng, then abruptly turned to look at Zhang Qiang and the others behind him, asking with a grim face, "Zhang Qiang, aren't you going to do something about this?"

Zhang Qiang frowned, then mused, "Director He, your concerns aren't without reason, but Chu Xuan must have his reasons for doing this. It's better if we respect his choice."

He Jun took a deep breath. "The global mutation is happening; Specter incidents are breaking out everywhere, and it's already difficult to cope. Some regions have even implemented city lockdowns to hunt Specters!"

"The current situation is extremely serious, though still within controllable limits. But if an S-rank Specter city-eradicating event occurs, especially in a metropolis like Haicheng with a population of over twenty million, social order will likely collapse instantly. The entire country will face devastating consequences then. Do you understand?"

Before Zhang Qiang could speak, Tang Zheng's voice reached them first.

"Since an S-rank Specter event is so serious, why are you, old man, still standing around here?"

Tang Zheng sneered. "Chu Xuan already said that Haicheng is about to face an S-rank Specter invasion. Instead of thinking of a way to deal with it, you're here targeting Chu Xuan. I'm starting to seriously doubt your motives!"

"You..." He Jun trembled with rage.

"Director He, Tang Zheng is actually right."

Zhang Qiang took a few deep drags of his cigarette and said, "Instead of wasting time here, we should go out and do something practical. Having more Transcendents on guard will give us a better chance of handling the coming risks."

"Zhang Qiang!"

He Jun said sternly, "You are the person in charge of Haicheng right now. How can you say something so irresponsible? Tang Zheng is clearly being deluded by the Specter inside Chu Xuan. They won't even let us in for a look; there's definitely something fishy going on. Even if you don't think of yourself, shouldn't you think of your team members?"

"Old Smoker is the temporary captain now, so I support his decision. Likewise, I'm willing to trust Chu Xuan."

Zhao Hongchan, cradling her child and standing within Zhang Qiang's Smoke, said with a smile, "Director He, first of all, this is Haicheng. It's only right that we, the Haicheng Night Watchers, handle all Specter matters."

"Secondly, in terms of rank, we are roughly equal, and Zhang Qiang is currently the temporary captain of Haicheng, which makes his position half a level higher than yours. Regardless, it doesn't seem like you need to be the one directing his actions, does it? If you really want to be in charge, why don't you apply to headquarters again to be parachuted in as the Haicheng Captain?"

As Zhao Hongchan finished speaking, Qin Qing, Han Feng, Bai Yunfei, and the others also spoke up, expressing their willingness to trust Chu Xuan.

These people had all unknowingly suffered under Azure Dragon's persecution, their Talents mysteriously weakened. With Azure Dragon dead, they clearly felt their Talents being strengthened.

Especially Zhao Hongchan and Zhang Qiang, who had essentially gotten their revenge with Chu Xuan's help. Although they had some doubts in their hearts at this moment, they ultimately chose to stand on Chu Xuan's side.

"Director He."

Xu Shuya walked over and said in a low voice, "Since everyone trusts Chu Xuan, there must be a reason. We are outsiders after all. Since we can't do anything more, we might as well leave for now, trust Chu Xuan's words, and focus on preparation instead of playing the villain."

"Yeah." Tan Ziming's mouth twitched, his voice barely audible. "We'd better leave here first. If an S-rank Specter really invades Haicheng, it's no joke..."

"Absolutely impossible!"

He Jun waved his hand. "Nearly an hour has passed since Chu Xuan said an S-rank Specter was about to invade. He was so urgent then, even claiming there wouldn't be time to escape... Those words are full of holes. How can you still believe him? The Strange Creatures inside Chu Xuan is definitely recovering right now. If we wait any longer, I'm afraid it'll be too late for regrets!"

Inside the confinement room.

Chu Xuan, who was enduring the burning of the Fire of Nirvana, vaguely heard the conversation outside and couldn't help but frown deeply.

Based on his experiences in the dream.

Chu Xuan had originally thought He Jun siphoned the spirituality from the Spirit Pearl because he noticed the strange changes in Chu Xuan's body, felt the Phantom Demon's aura, and feared that absorbing the spirituality would accelerate the Specter's recovery.

However, at this moment, he hadn't shown any signs of Specter recovery, was still inside the room out of everyone's sight, and most importantly, hadn't asked anyone for spirituality value.

Yet He Jun's response had changed, becoming more targeted toward him.

What was the difference between inside and outside the dream?

The Fire of Nirvana!

Chu Xuan's eyes suddenly narrowed. "This He Jun might have a problem..."

But immediately after, Chu Xuan suddenly thought of something.

In the dream just now, Chu Xuan thought it was his failure to step onto the Purifier path that caused the Phantom Demon to manifest, leading to Tang Zheng's death.

But now, although Chu Xuan was enduring intense pain and could hardly move.

The Phantom Demon was clearly in worse shape.

Its shrill screams never ceased, especially since it lacked a physical form and had lost a significant amount of spirituality value.

"Even in the worst-case scenario, assuming I fail the trial of the Fire of Nirvana, the Phantom Demon certainly won't fare any better. The most likely outcome is that it will be incinerated along with me..."

"But if that's the case, how did [Future Tang Zheng] die?"

"He Jun? No! Although there's something wrong with him, in the previous dream, Tang Zheng always left Haicheng with the Inspection Team led by He Jun and was later drawn into a Mysterious Land during the journey. Nothing went wrong then..."

"Then, who could have done it?"

A faint sense of foreboding grew in Chu Xuan's heart.

Just as this premonition was growing stronger.

In the wide corridor outside the confinement room, He Jun was still trying to prove in various ways that Chu Xuan was actually controlled by the Specter inside him, and that the so-called S-rank Specter invasion was merely a smokescreen to distract everyone.

He also mentioned how, over the past hour, with no air raids or other disasters occurring, many citizens had grown impatient, were unwilling to stay hidden, and were even starting to complain and curse privately.

Without any warning.

The entire world, at the exact same moment.

Whether it was the bright morning sun outdoors, the brilliant lights indoors, or the cramped dimness of the underground environment, all light vanished.

Nightfall!

At the same time, a wolf's howl, so crazed it trembled, resounded throughout the entire city of Haicheng.

"It's dark, please close your eyes!"

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