69: Destroy the Smile Core! The Rabble's Purification Frenzy!

In an instant, the city's "Happiness Alert" system completely exploded.

Piercing alarms resounded through the sky.

Countless Smile Guards, like hornets from a disturbed nest, swarmed out from every corner.

They frantically pounced on those who dared to be "unhappy."

Inside the repair room, Seer - Cang Xuan's eyes were tightly closed.

His fingers gently plucked the air, as if manipulating countless invisible threads of fate.

Southeast District 3, Seventh Patrol Squad, vehicle steering shaft... broken.

North City Plaza, monitoring system A2 area, overloaded... burned out.

Broadcast Tower support route, Pipe 13, valve... rusted shut.

With each flick of his fingers, an elite guard squad was obstructed by an "extremely coincidental" accident.

The Grief Front's seemingly suicidal actions, under his covert manipulation, miraculously managed to tie down ninety percent of the city's defensive forces!

"Now!" Cang Xuan's eyes snapped open.

Without a word, Shadow Empress Ye Liuli stepped forward.

Her body transformed into pure darkness, instantly expanding to engulf everyone in the Joint Squad.

"Stay close," her voice echoed in their minds.

The next second, this "Shadow Veil" that enveloped them, like a drop of ink falling into clear water, silently merged into the city's shadows.

At a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, they sped towards the distant, towering Broadcast Tower.

Light and sound were cut off.

Everything outside became blurred color blocks.

They moved as if in the cracks of the world, ignoring all guards and surveillance.

Soon, they reached the base of the Broadcast Tower.

Even in the shadows, they could feel the nauseating "Happiness Field" emanating from the tower.

"Chhh—" With a barely perceptible sound, Shadowless Ghost - Ye Qiong's figure flashed out of the shadows.

When he merged back into the darkness, the last hidden energy detector on the exterior of the Broadcast Tower had already been sliced in half by the short blade in his hand, a blade that could cut through light.

Their infiltration was unimpeded.

They ascended along the internal passage, directly reaching the core area.

A heavy door made of special alloy blocked their way.

Behind the door, a heavenly, pure, and heart-pounding children's choir could be heard faintly.

"The singing can penetrate matter and directly affect the soul."

Star Gazing Goddess Lingxi's face was a little pale.

In her eyes, a river of stars flowed, briefly reflecting images of the universe's creation and destruction.

"I see... the flow of laws..."

"The array's core is behind the door, to the front left, on the youngest girl. She is the 'first cause' of this song, the singularity of all power."

Everyone looked at Gu Yanci.

This man, who had worn a faint smile all along, finally slowly reined in his smile.

His gaze became incredibly deep, as if containing all the emotions of thousands of years of human civilization.

He didn't use any technique; he simply lifted his foot and, with the purest force, kicked the alloy door!

"Boom—!!!"

The door, like a thin sheet of paper, caved inward and burst open!

The scene behind the door came into view: a pure white, spacious, and spotless circular hall.

Dozens of children, dressed in white robes with innocent and lovely faces, were singing with their eyes closed, lost in their performance.

And behind them, an enormous "heart" made of light pulsed with the rhythm of the song.

As the door was breached, the "joyful" singing, like a bursting flood, instantly washed over everyone in the Joint Squad!

It was an indescribable, mandatory happiness!

It sought to flatten the anger in your heart, evaporate your sorrow, make you drop your weapons, kneel on the ground, and greet the arrival of "purification" with the happiest smile!

Ye Qiong's body stiffened, and the hand holding his blade loosened slightly.

Cang Xuan's face instantly turned pale.

At this critical moment, Gu Yanci stepped into the hall, facing the torrent of song.

"God does not allow humans to possess sorrow,"

His voice, though not loud, overpowered the heavenly chorus.

"Then, humans need no longer revere God."

As his words fell, a magnificent scroll unfolded behind him with a roar!

That was not energy, nor was it law, but rather... the grand chapter of "Humanity"!

It was the first cry of a newborn infant.

It was the heartbeat of a youth in passionate love.

It was the furious roar of a warrior before death.

It was the peaceful sigh of an elder before passing away... It was joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, desire!

It was all the emotions that constitute the word "human"!

A complete domain, belonging to "human nature," violently unfurled with Gu Yanci at its center!

The "joyful" singing, before this "Chapter of Humanity" filled with the seven emotions and six desires, was instantly drowned out, neutralized, and swallowed like monotonous white noise!

The blank expressions on the faces of the dozens of children changed for the first time.

They opened their eyes in confusion.

The singing abruptly ceased.

The giant heart of light, having lost its energy source, began to flicker violently, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain.

The mission was about to succeed!

However, at this very moment, the violently flickering heart of light, as if receiving a supreme command, miraculously stabilized.

Immediately after, an invisible wave, centered on the Broadcast Tower, instantly covered the entire city!

In every corner of the Land of Joy, whether it was the giant screens on the streets, the televisions at home, or the mobile phones everyone carried, all playing screens were forcibly cut off at the same time.

In their place was the familiar face of the female anchor from "Daily Laughter News," wearing an exaggerated smile.

Only this time, her smile was filled with "tears of joy," and her voice carried a "happy sob":

"Citizens! Emergency news!"

"A group of poor souls deeply infected by the 'Sorrow Virus' are attacking our source of happiness—the Central Broadcast Tower!"

On the screen, post-processed footage of the Joint Squad breaking into the Broadcast Tower appeared.

Their figures were deliberately distorted and darkened, while the singing children were given holy halos.

"Do you all see! These 'Happiness Thieves' have forgotten the beauty of laughter!"

"They are attempting to destroy our Broadcast Tower, to plunge the entire world back into crying, pain, and despair!"

"They even cruelly interrupted the blessings brought to us by the 'Joyful Choir'! Those lovely children just wanted to make them happy!"

The anchor, with an operatic tone, waved her arms, her face radiating a fervent and holy smile.

"They are sick! Very sick! But we cannot abandon them!"

"Citizens, our city is under attack! Our happiness is under threat!"

"Now, please put down everything in your hands and go! Go to the Broadcast Tower!"

"Use your smiles to enlighten them! Use your love to heal them! Let us together protect our happiness!"

This inversion of black and white, this incitement, like a spark igniting dry tinder, instantly set the entire Land of Joy ablaze.

Employees at work stopped typing on their keyboards.

Young people shopping threw away their shopping bags.

Families dining put down their knives and forks... Countless citizens, upon seeing the news, had their numb, formulaic smiles swiftly transform into a fervent, mission-driven, holy glow.

"So... those are bad people."

"They want to make us cry? How can there be such bad people!"

"No, I must protect the Broadcast Tower. If the Broadcast Tower is broken, we will never hear happy songs again!"

"They are just sick; we must love them and heal them!"

They shouted slogans like "Defend Happiness! Purify Heretics!" and spontaneously left their homes, walked onto the streets.

From all directions, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, they converged into a huge torrent, surging towards the Broadcast Tower.

They carried no weapons, only flowers, balloons, and colorful ribbons.

There were no angry roars from their mouths, only continuous sacred songs praising happiness.

Inside the Broadcast Tower, the Joint Squad was preparing to deliver the final blow to the heart of light, but they were startled by the singing and shouting from outside, like a mountain roar and a sea tide.

Gu Yanci frowned.

He walked to the breach in the wall he had kicked open and looked out.

The next second, even with his rock-solid resolve, his pupils involuntarily constricted slightly.

Below the Broadcast Tower, an endless "ocean of joy" had already formed.

Thousands of citizens held hands, forming an impenetrable human wall, completely surrounding the Broadcast Tower.

They looked up, their faces adorned with angelic, pure smiles, and in a hymn-like tone, they chanted in unison:

"Embrace us! Let us heal you!"

"Don't be afraid of happiness! We love you!"

A murderous glint flashed in Ye Qiong's eyes.

Just as he was about to act, Gu Yanci stopped him with a raised hand.

"They are civilians."

Gu Yanci's voice was cold.

They could kill gods, they could slaughter demons, but they could not wield their blades against a group of brainwashed, defenseless innocents.

The Joint Squad, for the first time, found themselves in an impossible dilemma.

Seeing no response from those inside the tower, the citizens began to attempt to "enter" the Broadcast Tower.

They helped each other, stepping on their companions' shoulders, and began to clumsily yet fervently climb upwards.

A young girl in a white dress, the most agile among them, was the first to reach the opening.

She saw the fully armed, stern-faced Joint Squad.

Instead of fear, her face showed an incredibly brilliant, incredibly pure smile.

She took out a carefully wrapped, colorful bouquet of flowers from behind her back.

She cautiously offered it to Ye Liuli, who was closest to her.

"Big sister, you look so sad... Don't be afraid, this 'Happiness Flower' is for you. Smell it, and you'll be as happy as us."

The girl's eyes were clear, like a spring, full of sincere goodwill.

Ye Liuli looked at the bouquet, momentarily lost in a daze.

However, in her moment of hesitation, the beautiful bouquet suddenly, like an awakened venomous snake, began to grow wildly and harden.

Countless knife-sharp thorns sprang from beneath the petals, forming a hideous claw that, like lightning, struck towards Ye Liuli's throat!

And the smile on the girl's face remained, throughout, so innocent and pure.