13: Chapter 13 is definitely not going to follow the usual formula!

In the real world, at the underground command center for the Pay-to-Win projects.

The atmosphere in the command center had relaxed considerably after the recent ideological education session about 'the bigger picture'.

Several young analysts even dared to whisper about what kind of 'surprises' Chen You's current game session might bring them.

Director Li Guoan stood before the massive monitoring screen, holding a cup of hot tea.

On the screen, Chen You's vital signs were as steady as a straight line, which slightly eased his tense nerves.

Money was not an issue.

As long as Chen You could safely become stronger and bring back more era-surpassing 'miracles', the nation could afford not just one hundred million, but ten billion, or even a hundred billion!

Just then, an unexpected change occurred!

Beside the reclining chair specifically prepared for Chen You—a chair crafted from special alloy located in the very center of the room—the air twisted without any warning.

A profound shadow materialized out of thin air, as if an invisible tear had opened in space.

Immediately following this, accompanied by a dull, heart-palpitating roar!

BOOM!!!

A massive black wolf, comparable in size to an adult brown bear, manifested out of mid-air about a meter high and slammed heavily onto the hard alloy floor!

The sheer impact force caused the entire command center to tremble!

"Alarm! Level One Alert!"

"Unknown biological entity detected! Repeat! Unknown biological entity detected!"

The piercing alarm instantly shattered the peaceful atmosphere.

Everyone was terrified by the sudden scene; several young analysts couldn't help but cry out in shock.

However, this was only the beginning.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Five consecutive heavy thuds echoed as five identical corpses of giant wolves fell one after another from the same spot, piling up haphazardly under the horrified gaze of the crowd.

A thick smell of blood and an indescribable fishy odor instantly permeated the entire sealed space.

The six massive carcasses formed a small mound, their pitch-black fur still stained with hot, unfrozen blood, while their ghostly white fangs gleamed cruelly under the lights.

The barbaric and violent aura emanating from another world washed over them, causing everyone's breath to catch.

"Silence!"

Director Li Guoan roared, his voice carrying unquestionable authority.

Although his heart skipped a beat at the horrifying sight, his experience weathered by storms allowed him to be the first to regain composure.

"Plan Group Three! Move in!"

Following his order, the alloy door on one side of the command center slid open silently.

A team of personnel, already fully equipped in silver-white, fully enclosed protective suits, quickly and orderly rushed in, pushing various instruments and special sealed transport containers.

They had obviously rehearsed countless times; although every movement betrayed tension, there was no sign of panic.

"My heavens... Is this... Is this a wolf?"

An old and excited voice rang out.

Academician Zhang Ping from the Institute of Biological Research pushed aside the guards blocking him and stumbled toward the edge of the isolation zone.

He leaned against the transparent bulletproof glass, staring at the pile of wolf corpses with shining eyes, his whole body trembling slightly.

"Perfect specimens! A brand new species! Quick! Get me samples! I need living cells! No, fresh tissue slices will do too!"

He spoke incoherently, his face flushed with excitement. His expression suggested he had seen a peerless treasure rather than a terrifying monster.

Beside him, another white-haired old professor—Qian Zhonghua, a titan in the field of materials science—seemed rather uninterested.

He only glanced briefly at the pile of bloody corpses before returning his gaze to Chen You's data on the screen, an unconcealed eagerness shining in his cloudy old eyes.

"Old Zhang, don't rush. That meat will be yours sooner or later," Qian Zhonghua said, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Although he appeared calm on the surface, he was extremely impatient internally.

"Little Chen... Please bring back some 'hard goods' this time..."

...

On the wilderness, Chen You was currently a fleeting shadow in motion.

His cultivation at the first level of Qi Refining, combined with the spiritual energy circulation method of the Nine Revolutions Primordial Chaos Art, had pushed his physical capabilities to an incredible level.

As he ran, only the whistling wind remained in his ears, and the scenery on both sides rushed backward rapidly.

At this speed, a hundred-meter dash would probably take less than five seconds!

Is this the world of a Cultivator?

Chen You felt a surge of exhilaration in his heart.

However, he was not overwhelmed by his newfound power.

His attention was highly focused; while maintaining maximum speed, he vigilantly scanned his surroundings.

"The low-level mobs along the way aren't much of a threat, but who knows what other traps this damn game has."

"What if there's an instant-death skill that ignores defense? What if there's mental control? What if there are traps?"

Various possibilities flashed wildly through Chen You's mind.

He certainly didn't want to lose the life he spent one hundred million to secure due to a moment of carelessness.

Safety first!

On the distant horizon, the ancient city named Zhao City finally revealed its complete appearance.

It was a magnificent city that defied description.

The city walls soared a hundred meters high, built from an unknown type of dark green giant stone, covered in marks from blades and axes, bearing the mottled imprints left by time.

A heavy, grim, and ancient aura rushed toward him even from that far distance, causing Chen You to subconsciously slow his running pace slightly.

It was too spectacular.

Compared to this city, the so-called historical famous cities on Earth were practically children's building block toys.

He swallowed and glanced at the substitute talisman, which had less than three minutes remaining, and sped up again.

He had to enter the city before the BUFF disappeared!

However, the closer he got, the heavier Chen You's heart felt.

It was too quiet.

A city of this scale should, by rights, have the sounds of human voices and marketplace clamor audible even from a great distance.

But now, he couldn't hear anything.

No crowing roosters or barking dogs, no sounds of carriages or horses, not even the slightest whisper of wind.

The entire Zhao City was shrouded in dead silence.

Chen You slowed down, stopping about a hundred meters from the city gate, observing cautiously.

The city gate was open.

The two immensely heavy bronze gates were slightly ajar, leaving a gap about the width of a palm.

There were no guards at the entrance.

No soldiers patrolled the walls.

Nothing at all.

Chen You's heartbeat began to accelerate, and a sense of unease, stronger than when facing the six Ghost Wolves, gripped his heart.

The unknown was far more terrifying than known danger.

He glanced at the BUFF counter in the upper right corner.

[02:13]

The effect of the substitute talisman only had the last two minutes remaining.

Should he go in, or wait until the BUFF disappeared before making plans?

No, he couldn't wait.

Chen You quickly dismissed the thought.

Who knew what kind of ghosts were in this city? With the substitute talisman active, he had at least one extra life.

If he waited until the BUFF was gone and encountered an instant-kill trap upon entering, he wouldn't even have a place to cry.

Buying another substitute talisman would cost another ten million!

Save what can be saved; no need for extravagance.

Chen You made up his mind, started walking again, and headed toward the ominous gap in the city gate.

His right hand tightly gripped the hilt of his iron sword.

One step, two steps...

As the distance closed, a faint odor, mixed with dust and decay, drifted out from the gap in the gate.

Chen You stopped before the massive bronze gate.

He listened intently; behind the gate, there was still only dead silence.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth, reached out, and forcefully pushed the heavy city gate.

"Screeeech~"

A long, ear-piercing scraping sound broke the prolonged silence.

The bronze gate slowly opened, and the scene behind it was revealed to Chen You.

A wide bluestone main street, completely deserted.

The shops lining both sides of the street had their doors and windows wide open, yet there were no figures inside either.

The wind blew down the long street, stirring up a few withered leaves and some torn pieces of paper, making a rustling sound that seemed exceptionally clear in this dead city.

Chen You stood at the entrance, completely frozen.

His gaze swept over the empty street toward the depths of the city.

There, a faint wisp of black mist was slowly rising.