289: Chapter 288 Racing Against Time

"Revelation: The saying 'No old money accepted, no new life spared' simply means you must spend money to pay off your debts and avert disaster. But in my opinion, this 'old money' does not refer to the material distinction between new and old. How would a Specter need currency used by ordinary people, let alone new money? In my view, the 'money' required by Strange Creaturess might be related to spirituality. The spirit money unique to the Resurrection Society might be worth a try."

Seeing this reply, Chu Xuan's heart stirred.

When he had killed Xiao Wei at St. Lianna Hospital, although he had obtained some spirit money, because his clothes were torn and he had nowhere to store it, he had absorbed it all and kept none.

However, this was the Night Watchers headquarters. Even [Revelation] was a mole for the Resurrection Society; Chu Xuan believed there must be more Resurrection Society moles here.

Even if that failed, he could try using spirit orbs as a last resort.

In the worst-case scenario, before dying, Chu Xuan had a 70% certainty of killing that S-rank Specter to compensate for the consumption caused by death in the dream.

Chu Xuan did not plan on running away for now.

That S-rank Specter was clearly S-Rank and possessed an ability similar to teleportation.

Since he had already been targeted, rather than living in fear of a sneak attack in the coming days, it was better to actively deal with it now while in the dream to find a way to resolve it properly.

Moreover, killing it would grant a large amount of spirituality value, a precious resource Chu Xuan would naturally not let slip by.

"Usually, every time an S-rank Specter is killed, a rule fragment is obtained. There was no harvest this time, perhaps related to the dream, but killing it when waking from the dream might be different..."

7:02 AM.

Chu Xuan spent 1500 spirituality value to condense fifty Slashes within his body, each consuming 30 spirituality value.

At this moment, Chu Xuan even felt a vague sense of bloating; he could barely suppress the Slashes within his body, ready to burst forth at any time.

With 3750 spirituality value remaining, Chu Xuan did not hold back this time; first, he raised his Personal Rank.

[You have consumed 900 spirituality value, your Personal Rank +1]

[Current Personal Rank: 10]

Finally level 10, Chu Xuan felt an inexplicable emotion.

The Azure Dragon from back then might have been at this level, but if he encountered the Azure Dragon again, Chu Xuan was confident he could kill the other party in a single exchange if fighting head-on.

Of course, the Azure Dragon's most terrifying aspect was not his head-on combat ability.

It was that he hid deep, was patient enough, had extreme growth potential, and combined with his almost perverse survival ability, he could secretly place a Death Mark on people.

He had practically played the "hidden mastermind" style to the extreme.

Without pausing, after the seamless upgrade, Chu Xuan spent 1300 spirituality value in one go, pushing his stamina to the limit.

[stamina: 130]

[health points: 1300]

A surge of heat welled up, and Chu Xuan's whole body felt like it was in a furnace, but amidst this, the uncontrollable Slashes within his body finally calmed down.

It was already 7:03 AM; it was just early morning, but there were already pedestrians coming and going on the road in the distance.

The personnel configuration at the headquarters was similar to that in Haicheng; Inspectors, interns, research personnel, and related logistics and office staff were all in this place.

Sweeping his gaze across, with Eye of Insight activated and finding no abnormalities, Chu Xuan vaulted over and headed toward a tall building in the center.

The people coming and going were unfazed by this, busy with their own affairs.

Getting closer and closer to the tall building.

Although this was Chu Xuan's first time here, looking from afar, he could already vaguely feel that the place had a vibrant life force.

That must be where personnel gathered.

Chu Xuan sped along, his body leaving a trail of afterimages. Just as he was about to enter, three people walked out from the opposite direction, and he immediately slowed his pace.

One of them was Hu Xian, whom he had met outside St. Lianna Hospital before.

At that time, after Chu Xuan violently repelled the two guards, Hu Xian was furious and wanted to attack him.

However, after Chu Xuan forced the Specter inside Ji Tong to revive and then instantly killed it, Hu Xian immediately chickened out.

At this moment, upon seeing Chu Xuan again, Hu Xian's expression was complex, and he whispered a few words to a young man with a slicked-back hairstyle beside him.

The slicked-back young man nodded slightly, raised his eyebrows, and looked at Chu Xuan with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Chu Xuan, this is our Capital Deputy Captain, You Hongle. Come and get to know him."

Hu Xian coughed lightly, stepped forward, and just as he was about to say something else, Chu Xuan reached out and pushed his head aside.

"Get lost, not interested in meeting."

Hearing Chu Xuan's voice, Hu Xian stumbled, almost falling to the ground. When he looked back at Chu Xuan, his expression was a mix of shame and anger.

"Chu Xuan, you really have a personality!"

You Hongle's mouth curled up: "In terms of Rank, I am your superior. Is this the attitude you have?"

Chu Xuan merely glanced at him indifferently, and Black Flame suddenly emerged from his palm.

Seeing this, You Hongle's expression turned stern. Just as he was about to defend himself, the palm covered in Black Flame had already reached out, but the target was not You Hongle; it was the third person.

This person was slightly chubby. Since Chu Xuan appeared, his originally smiling expression had become somewhat stiff, his look shifting between light and shadow, wondering what he was thinking.

He clearly had not expected Chu Xuan to suddenly attack him; without any power to resist, he was directly grabbed by the throat.

Accompanied by the spreading Black Flame, a shrill scream erupted from his mouth.

"Chu Xuan, what are you doing?!"

You Hongle's face changed drastically, and he was about to attack, but he saw that the person in Chu Xuan's hand had a hideous and twisted expression, rapidly transforming into a Specter state.

This scene made his movements pause.

Hu Xian widened his eyes: "This... again?!"

Ignoring the two of them, time was already running out. Chu Xuan had already judged this person's abnormality through Eye of Insight, and now he directly started searching him.

Sure enough, he found over thirty spirit money on this chubby man.

"Ugh..."

The chubby man let out an inhuman scream from his throat.

Chu Xuan did not say much. After getting what he wanted, he directly delivered the killing blow. Accompanied by rising flames, the Strange Creatures that the chubby man had turned into was easily killed.

[Your spirituality value +230]

Time —

7:05

"Chu Xuan, do you possess exploration-type skills that can distinguish the presence of Specters? Even if they haven't fully occupied the human body and are only in a symbiotic state, can you detect them?"

You Hongle's eyes flashed with brilliance: "Answer me quickly, I can give you unexpected benefits!"