30: Chapter 30 Cleaning up the battlefield, we struck it rich!

Chapter 30: Cleaning Up the Battlefield, I've Struck It Rich!

The final trace of deterrence brought by Wang Kun's total annihilation of body and soul was like the straw that broke the camel's back, causing the remaining Thousand-Faced Cultist and Bizarre Monsters allied forces outside the city to completely lose all will to resist.

The collapse had begun.

The surviving enemies, no matter how fanatical or fierce they had been before, now had only one thought—flee! The further away they could get from that monster who could summon a god of slaughter and crush people with money, the better!

They threw away their armor and fled like headless flies, wailing and screaming as they ran for their lives away from the Fortress, wishing they had been born with two extra legs.

However, Lin Chen clearly had no intention of letting these "experience and materials" that had delivered themselves to his doorstep go.

He didn't even bother to give a personal order.

The phantom image of bai qi, which had been standing in silent solemnity and radiating a heaven-piercing murderous aura, slowly raised the bronze halberd in its hand after that remnant soul was purified by Lin Chen's [Ghost Tycoon Authority], and gave a gentle downward swing toward the fleeing enemy forces below.

A silent command, yet more effective than any roar.

"Roar—!"

The Fortress gates swung wide open! Hundreds of Yin Soldiers, who had already been lined up in formation behind the gates, surged out instantly like a bursting black flood! They were silent, with only the nether fires flickering in their eye sockets, burning with a thirst for slaughter and souls!

At the same time, the nether ghosts summoned by the [Ten Thousand Ghost Talisman] outside the city seemed to receive a command from a higher authority; they no longer attacked aimlessly but began to organize themselves under the guidance of an invisible hand to intercept, divide, and devour the fleeing enemies!

Yin Soldiers advanced like a wall, while ghosts followed like shadows.

This could no longer be called a battle; it was a one-sided, efficient, and cold-blooded harvest!

The fleeing enemy forces fell in swathes like harvested wheat. The long halberds of the Yin Soldiers easily pierced their armor, and the sharp teeth of the ghosts tore through their souls. Screams of agony rose and fell, but were soon swallowed by an even greater, deathly silence.

On the Fortress walls, Zhang Hao watched with boiling blood. He picked up his Ghost-Headed Earth-Splitting Axe from the ground and howled, "Master! Let me take some men out for a charge too! I promise to squeeze the yolks right out of those bastards!"

Lin Chen glanced at him and didn't object: "Go if you want, just don't delay the important business."

"Understood!" Zhang Hao was overjoyed. He immediately gathered a team of veteran members who were just as fierce and battle-hungry as he was, having been held back for a long time. They opened the side gate and charged out, like tigers among a flock of sheep, specifically picking off isolated enemies who had been scattered by the Yin Soldiers. His axe swung with the force of a gale, cutting through them as easily as vegetables!

Su Qingyu had already begun directing the logistics personnel and some Yin Soldiers, preparing to leave the city to collect the spoils of war. Her face carried the relief of victory, but her eyes remained calm as she made orderly arrangements: "Team one is responsible for seizing weapons and armor, team two will clear usable materials, and team three pay attention to collecting Energy Crystals and special items. Move fast!"

Standing on the city wall, Lin Chen looked down at the efficient "cleanup" operation and immersed his consciousness into the system.

[Ding! Large amount of ownerless soul energy and resentment fragments detected. Absorb and convert to nether talisman?]

[Absorbing...]

[nether talisman +150,000]

[+80,000]

[+220,000]

...

The system prompts sounded like the most beautiful music, constantly echoing in his mind. Wang Kun and this allied force were practically here to bring him warmth! The nether talisman consumed earlier to deploy the [Ten Thousand Ghost Talisman] and summon Bai Qi were recovering at an incredible speed, quickly surpassing his pre-war reserves!

This wasn't a war; this was clearly a shortcut to sudden wealth!

"Master! Master! We've struck it rich! We're rich!" Zhang Hao, covered in the blood of his enemies and carrying several bulging bags, ran back to the city wall and shouted up excitedly, "Look! So many energy weapons! And these materials taken from the Bizarre Monsters must be worth a fortune!"

Other teams clearing the battlefield also returned one after another, bringing back mountains of loot. Damaged but repairable firearms, cold weapons infused with eerie energy, various rare metal materials, and Energy Crystals of different lusters dug out from the bodies of powerful Bizarre Monsters...

Su Qingyu directed her team to quickly tally and categorize everything, a smile finally breaking out on her face. These supplies were enough to take the Fortress's strength to the next level!

However, while tallying the items found near where Wang Kun had finally been annihilated, a Yin Soldier Centurion brought an object to Lin Chen.

The item wasn't large, only about the size of a palm, dark gold in color and slightly damaged at the edges, appearing to be a fragment of a token. The token's material was neither metal nor wood, cold to the touch, and carved with blurred patterns that were somewhat similar to the Fortress's runes but even more ancient and profound. On the back, there was a fragmented inscription resembling the character for "Netherworld."

It lay quietly in the Yin Soldier's hand, yet it naturally radiated a vast, heavy aura that seemed to carry the order of reincarnation, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding loot filled with slaughter and chaos.

[Special Item Discovered: Netherworld Keepsake (Damaged) · underworld general token (1/4)]

[Information: A standard token fragment from the Ancient Netherworld, seemingly pointing toward some Lost Land. Collecting them all might trigger a special event.]

The system prompt sounded at the appropriate time.

Lin Chen picked up the cold token fragment and rubbed it between his fingertips. The feel of it was far heavier than it looked.

How did Wang Kun have this? Was it given by the Thousand Faces Cult? Or did he have some other fortuitous encounter?

Combining this with the literature fragments about the "Ancient Netherworld" found in the armory earlier, Lin Chen faintly felt that this so-called "Netherworld" seemed to have some deeper connection with this bizarre apocalypse and the nether domain asset system he possessed.

"Netherworld..." He whispered the word, a spark of interest flashing in his eyes.

It seemed that after clearing this "Novice Village," it would be time to explore a broader and more dangerous "map."

He put away the token fragment and looked down at the people busily cleaning the battlefield with joyful faces, as well as the nether talisman numbers still constantly ticking up in the system, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

This battle was worth it.