CHAPTER 618: CHAPTER 168: DEEP BEHIND ENEMY LINES FINALLY MEET (REQUEST FOR MONTHLY TICKETS)

Xu Shu’s descent was rapid.

In another elevator shaft in the northern building, whimpers continued sporadically while the joyful corpses lined up. However, on his side, he had successfully landed.

This building, having around sixty or seventy floors, was one of the tallest structures in the safe zone today. A fall from a height of two to three hundred meters was enough to kill a person, but for Xu Shu at present, it was nothing.

The elevator car on this side was stopped on the first floor. Xu Shu didn’t use brute force but quietly flipped open the roof of the car, climbed in, and successfully reached the first floor.

There were no people inside the elevator. Xu Shu pressed the door open button, and it opened.

At this moment, Xu Shu was somewhat worried because, according to the design of this "courtyard," the elevators in the buildings to the east, south, west, and north should all face the central open space. He hadn’t noticed this before, possibly due to a rather concealed design.

What if he went out and encountered the third ranking elder? He didn’t have a second "Path of No Return" now. Wouldn’t that be awkward?

But staying inside was not an option either as he could already hear the ding-dong sounds from above; Xu Shu strongly suspected that his pursuers had arrived.

Oh, to be exact, they were probably still above the elevator shaft and hadn’t come down yet. At this moment, it was the case of "no move made by the troops, but the mess flows first."

As for the dribbling and splattering noises above, Xu Shu didn’t even bother to think about them, sure of what they were.

"Tainted by worldly filth, yet they still chase after me, running while leaking—how utterly detestable!"

"It might not necessarily be to chase me; possibly others have filled their slots, so they come here to line up... Should I hide here in the car for a while?"

"These damned minions of the Heroic Society, their sense of shame doesn’t seem very strong, not shamed enough to commit suicide in the spot!"

Xu Shu secretly seethed.

At this point, he made a slight miscalculation.

The subsequent suicidal effects of being "worldly tainted" were not mandatory but varied by individual and adapted by situation.

If among a hundred people, only five or six had an accident with their trousers, most of them would feel too ashamed to keep on living, preferring a quick death.

But now, if eighty out of a hundred people were involved in the mess, the situation was dramatically different.

They wouldn’t only avoid feeling shamed into committing suicide; they might even compete to see who made more mess or shot further, discuss who the true heroes were, and try to drag the remaining twenty into their mess so no one could stay clean.

This is what’s called "going with the flow."

When everyone loses face together, it’s as if no one has lost face.

Xu Shu couldn’t concern himself with deep thought on this; he knew the opponents wouldn’t let it go, and staying in this elevator shaft was not a long-term plan.

"Quick, does this make sense?"

"No, this is fake!"

"Look at this side! Ouch, what are you doing, don’t wipe on my pants!"

Xu Shu hid in the elevator, listening carefully; he could hear the people above shouting, planning to send someone down, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Not good! Among them were Transcendents specialized in tracking. The simple distractions he left wouldn’t be much useful; he had to start moving.

Xu Shu even saw the elevator buttons lighting up on the control panel; knowing he couldn’t wait any longer, they wanted to come down.

So, Xu Shu stretched out his hand and swiftly lit up dozens of buttons on the elevator, greatly stalling them and making them unsure if he was really in there.

Xu Shu, however, pressed the button to open the elevator and dashed out.

His mind was alert, ready to transform into a liquid form to escape, lest he face a deadly sword strike from the third elder as soon as he stepped out.

But upon leaving the elevator, Xu Shu’s expression stiffened.

Outside the elevator was not the outdoor open space he’d expected, but an indoor area instead.

The floor tiles here were clean and damp, freshly mopped, with rows of tables and chairs nearby.

"Huh? I’m still inside a building? This isn’t leading outdoors?"

"It seems I wasn’t wrong before; the direct outdoor-facing elevator is only in the northern building!"

"This looks like the cafeteria of the Heroic Society; indeed, they are understaffed!"

Xu Shu made some guesses as he observed.

Suddenly, his ears twitched; he heard some strange sounds, like singing, coming from the direction of a nearby "exit" sign.

After briefly pondering, Xu Shu quickly followed the sound and, upon exiting the door, discovered a corridor where the noises originated from below.

This was the first floor, but there was a whole different world underground!

After stepping outside, the sounds were clearer, and it was evidently people reciting poetry, and not just a few.

The main base of the Cult?!

Xu Shu’s eyes brightened, knowing he hadn’t come to the wrong place.

However, he didn’t proceed downward but instead walked around the corridor to find another exit.

There was a door at that spot; as Xu Shu leaned in, he smelled a hint of blood and, peeping through the crack, saw over a dozen people busying themselves, with some talking.

"They went to chase the invader, hoping to earn great merits in front of the Hall Master and the Elder, but left us with this dirty job—damn it!" a man cursed.

Another person chuckled, "Just count your blessings. Didn’t you see what happened outside? Even the third elder stumbled. We’re lucky to have this task and avoid disaster; don’t be ungrateful for the fortune amidst misfortune."