22: Chapter 22 Even Gold Can't Imprison Him, A Strange Head

The scene shifts to a location hundreds of miles away from Rebirth City.

Under the gloomy sky, dark clouds gathered, heralding an impending thunderstorm.

Several modified heavy armored vehicles, like steel behemoths, roared across the desolate plains.

Crunch! Crunch!!

The wheels occasionally crushed remnants from the old era, emitting a series of crisp sounds.

"Hmph, what Rebirth City, what Evil Buddha."

Inside the lead combat vehicle, a burly, bearded middle-aged man was disdainfully polishing a giant axe in his hand.

The middle-aged man was one of the New Federation's four Executives... Han Dang.

He didn't care at all about the plight of Xu Lan and the others.

Because he was a B-Rank Ghost Controller! He was confident that the 【Mountain-Moving Ghost】 within him could suppress anything!!

"That useless Xu Lan, armed with so many strategic anomaly artifacts, actually got crippled by something playing at being a god or ghost."

"Pah!! This time, I'm taking charge myself. I'm definitely going to turn that so-called Buddha statue into a pile of rubble!"

Han Dang's voice was rough and booming, causing the vehicle windows to tremble slightly.

Hearing this, the two C-rank Ghost Controller captains sitting beside him hurriedly chimed in:

"That's for sure! With Executive Han taking action, suppressing a mere anomaly is as easy as reaching out and taking it!"

"Absolutely, absolutely! In front of Executive Han, not even an A-rank Abnormality could make a splash..."

The two sang in harmony, continuously flattering and praising Han Dang.

However, in the corner, another, younger C-rank captain frowned slightly, a trace of barely perceptible worry flashing in his eyes.

"Something that could drive Xu Lan mad and even forcibly peek into her memories..."

"Is that entity really that easy to deal with?"

But he said nothing.

In the New Federation, the consequences of questioning a superior were often more dangerous than facing an anomaly.

And just then, a lazy voice sounded from the back seat:

"Alright, Old Han, don't be too overconfident."

The speaker was none other than Water Exquisite.

She wore a form-fitting qipao with a high slit, revealing a pair of long, jade-white legs.

She exuded a mature, charming allure that seemed capable of ensnaring hearts.

"Since the Director sent both of us, it means that thing... isn't so simple."

Water Exquisite held a cigarette, blew out a smoke ring, her eyes hazy as if pondering something.

"Hmph, women are always so timid."

Han Dang snorted disdainfully, clearly unimpressed by Water Exquisite.

The convoy sped along.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered some F-rank and E-Class Anomalies. Before these could even launch an attack, they were casually contained by the Ghost Controllers on the vehicles.

"Haha! Another one!"

"These wild anomalies are practically performance metrics delivered to our doorstep!"

"Following Executive Han really pays off!"

The group's morale soared higher and higher, and Han Dang grew increasingly arrogant, as if this operation was just a leisurely outing.

However.

No one noticed.

When the convoy passed through a shadowy valley.

An E-Class Ghost Controller sitting in the very last vehicle suddenly had a trace of bloodstain appear on his neck.

That trace of bloodstain was wriggling, as if alive, silently seeping into his skin... Several hours later.

The convoy finally arrived outside Rebirth City.

After surveying the city's interior via drone, a fierce glint appeared in Han Dang's eyes.

"What a nice place."

"So many people. If we captured them all as slaves... the Director would be very pleased."

As he spoke, he pushed open the vehicle door, jumped out, and strode towards the city gate.

"Listen up, people in the city!"

"I am New Federation Executive Officer Han Dang!"

"You have three minutes to open the city gates immediately and kneel in surrender!"

"Otherwise, I'll slaughter this entire city today!!"

His voice thundered, echoing over the city walls.

On the walls, the patrolling guards' expressions changed, and they immediately sounded the alarm.

Soon.

Zhao Linfeng arrived at the city wall, leading Qin Yao, Zhou Kai, and a group of Rebirth City's elite Ghost Controllers.

"New Federation?"

Zhao Linfeng looked at Han Dang, his eyes filled with coldness.

"Didn't that Xu Lan get enough of dying last time?"

"You still dare to come here seeking death?"

Hearing Zhao Linfeng's words, Han Dang flew into a rage. He grabbed a submachine gun, brimming with Killing Intent, and roared:

"Bastard! How dare you compare me to that useless Xu Lan!"

Boom! Boom-boom!!

As he pulled the trigger, a barrage of bullets violently shot into the sky.

"You worthless trash who don't know what's good for you!"

"Since you're looking for death, I'll grant your wish!"

Just as he was about to force his way into Rebirth City.

A slender hand landed on his shoulder.

\

Only a large pool of thick, dark red blood gushed from his body, instantly covering the ground within a radius of several meters.

The companion who had wanted to help him up was drenched head-on by this torrent of blood.

"Ah!!!"

A shrill scream rang out.

That companion's body began to melt at a visible speed.

No, not melting.

It was assimilation!

His skin rapidly turned red, festered, and then transformed into the same substance as the pool of blood on the ground.

In just a few seconds.

He became a blood-soaked corpse, staggering to its feet.

And that pool of blood continued to spread outward.

Like a living Creep, it frantically devoured everything around it.

"What... what the hell is this?!"

Han Dang was also stunned.

He had never seen such a bizarre sight.

"Is it the work of that Evil Buddha?!"

"Dare to ambush my men? You're seeking death!!"

Blinded by rage, Han Dang didn't think twice and directly mobilized the 【Mountain-Moving Ghost】 within him.

"Suppress it for me!!"

Boom!!

A heavy, savage force of rules pressed down fiercely on the pool of blood.

Attempting to forcibly restrain it.

However.

This action was like poking a hornet's nest.

Attacked, the pool of blood didn't suppress; instead, it instantly began to boil.

Sizzle... The blood actually flowed along the invisible rule force, directly corroding its way back onto Han Dang's body!

"What?!"

Han Dang's face changed dramatically.

He felt his 【Mountain-Moving Ghost】, as if encountering some terrifying natural enemy, was being frantically devoured and polluted by a horrifying power.

"No... get away! Get away!!"

He roared in panic, wanting to sever the connection.

But that blood-red power was like gangrene clinging to the bone, impossible to shake off.

Dark red spots began to appear on his arm.

His vision started turning blood-red.

"Idiot!!"

Water Exquisite cursed angrily. She couldn't fathom how a brute like Han Dang could become a B-Ranked Anomaly... "Cut off your arm! Quick, or you'll die!!"

In the next instant, Water Exquisite shouted again.

Han Dang was also a ruthless man.

Hearing this, without any hesitation, he swung his battle-axe and cleanly severed his contaminated left arm at the shoulder.

Splat!

Blood spurted forth.

But he didn't even grunt, just stared in terror at the severed limb on the ground.

After landing, that severed arm instantly turned into a pool of blood, merging into the ever-expanding bloody expanse.

"This... what on earth is this..."

Han Dang clutched his stump, his face pale as paper.

In that moment just now, he had truly felt the threat of death.

"Go! Get out!!"

"The situation has changed."

"Get away from here first!"

Water Exquisite decisively gave the order, her face now devoid of its earlier composure and allure.

"Everyone, retreat immediately!!"

After speaking, she was the first to board a vehicle, fleeing directly into the distance.

Whatever this thing on the ground was, it certainly wasn't something they could handle.

However.

After Water Exquisite and the others had run for a full five minutes.

They were shocked to discover that the surrounding scenery hadn't changed at all.

The walls of Rebirth City still towered behind them.

That bloody expanse was still spreading not far from their feet.

"Ghost Wall?!"

"We're trapped!!"

A C-rank captain shouted in despair.

"Damn it!"

Water Exquisite's face turned ashen.

Her hands trembling, she pulled a golden communicator from her chest.

It was the highest-authority communicator directly linked to the New Federation headquarters.

"Call for reinforcements! We must call for reinforcements immediately!"

"We need the Chief to come!!"

"Bzz... bzz..."

However, when she opened the communicator, there was only a chaotic crackle of static.

"No signal..."

Water Exquisite's hand went slack, and the communicator fell to the ground.

Her heart sank completely to the bottom.

"How could this be..."

"What kind of Abnormality is this? It can actually block the signal of a B-Rank Abnormality item..."

Right at this moment.

"Sigh..."

A sigh abruptly echoed between heaven and earth.

The voice was very soft, very faint.

Yet it was as if it whispered right next to everyone's ear.

Following this sigh.

The surrounding air seemed to solidify.

Even the wind ceased to flow.

Inside the Rebirth Temple.

Lin Chuan's stone buddha body trembled violently.

"That voice..."

"Not good!!"

He had been observing everything outside.

When that New Federation's E-Class Ghost Controller suddenly exploded and died, he sensed something was wrong.

That dark red blood, that terrifying polluting power... It was clearly the blood of that S-rank Taboo — 【Weeping Blood Head】 — that he had seen through Blood Crow's vision!!

"Damn! These New Federation scum! They actually lured that thing here!!"

Lin Chuan cursed inwardly.

It was obvious.

When these New Federation people passed by that valley, they had accidentally been tainted by the taboo's aura.

Their bodies then formed a medium, carrying it all the way to the outskirts of Rebirth City.

Originally, separated by three hundred li, no matter how fierce or dangerous it was, it wouldn't immediately threaten Rebirth City.

But now, Lin Chuan had to face that thing up close!

【Warning! Warning!】

【S-Rank First Order taboo — Weeping Blood Head is awakening!】

Deep within Lin Chuan's consciousness, red characters flashed frantically on the panel, as if heralding a great catastrophe.

"Shit!!"

Lin Chuan looked at the New Federation group outside the city, who were already petrified with fear, a flicker of ruthlessness in his eyes.

He made a snap decision and immediately sent a mental message to Zhao Linfeng and the others.

"Initiate the highest-level alarm!"

"Organize all residents to enter the underground shelters! Now!"

"Hurry!!!"

Lin Chuan couldn't stay calm at all now.

If he were still an ordinary person, his voice would have cracked from shouting.

Although Zhao Linfeng and the others didn't know what was happening, hearing Lin Chuan's unprecedented, urgent mental message, they knew a major disaster was coming.

"Retreat! Retreat!!"

"Everyone into the basement!!"

Rebirth City instantly descended into chaos.

But fortunately, over the past few months, Lin Chuan had long instructed Zhao Linfeng to establish a comprehensive emergency response system.

Countless Believers, under the patrol teams' direction, poured into the underground shelters in an orderly fashion.

Though afraid, they trusted the "Buddha of Rebirth" even more.

"The Buddha will definitely protect us!"

"As long as we're in the city, we'll be safe!"

And at this moment.

Outside the city.

Water Exquisite and the others had completely fallen into despair.

Because they saw.

In the distant sky, a point of red light was slowly drifting closer.

It was a... human head.

Its eyes were closed, an eerie smile on its face.

Blood flowed from all seven orifices.

Wherever it passed, space twisted, and all things withered.

"That... that's..."

An E-Class Ghost Controller's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

Before he could finish.

That head suddenly opened its eyes.

Pitch black.

Profound.

No whites.

Only endless deathly stillness.

Crack!

That E-Class Ghost Controller's head, as if bitten by an invisible giant maw.

Disappeared into thin air.

Only a headless corpse remained, blood still spurting from the neck.

"Ah!!!"

Water Exquisite let out a scream. She felt an inexplicable fear in her heart.

The rule force emanating from that head affected her reason and thoughts, making her entire body tremble.

"Contain it! Contain it quickly!!"

Like a madwoman, she pulled out a huge golden bag and recklessly tried to cover that head with it.

This was the highest-level containment item she possessed.

Capable of containing an A-rank Abnormality!

Under the golden bag's envelopment, the eerie head was directly captured inside.

"Caught... caught it?!"

Seeing this, Water Exquisite was stunned, then overjoyed.

"Hahaha! Caught it!!"

"What terrifying Abnormality, still no match for me..."

However.

Before she could finish her words.

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

On the surface of her supposedly indestructible, A-rank Abnormality-isolating golden bag, cracks suddenly appeared.

Immediately after.

Dark red blood seeped from the cracks.

Bang!!

The golden bag exploded.

That head floated out, completely unharmed.

It was still smiling.

A chilling, eerie smile, as if trying to drag people into an endless abyss.

Inside the Rebirth Temple, Lin Chuan watched this scene, his heart sinking to the bottom.

And then, his consciousness panel popped up another piece of bad news:

【Tip: Gold can only contain Abnormality, it cannot contain taboos exceeding S-Rank!】