CHAPTER 678: CHAPTER 677: THE DEVIL’S GIFT

"Ding—Liu Qingsong’s tension value +10000."

Tsk...

A feeling value of ten thousand, Lu Zixun somewhat missed hearing such low values; it had been a long time since he’d heard one so low.

Before Liu Qingsong could approach Lu Zixun, she was repelled by the Spiritual Power Shield surrounding him.

Liu Qingsong, who fell to the ground, had a puzzled look in her eyes. How could there be a Spiritual Power Shield around this cat?

Could it be that the Peeling Eucalyptus had undergone another mutation?

Yang Tao stepped forward to help Liu Qingsong up, revealing a gentle smile, "You must be Miss Liu from STO, right? We are from the Order."

Liu Qingsong had already recognized them by their clothes.

But as someone who naturally liked small animals, seeing a cat walking towards a Peeling Eucalyptus Tree, she panicked all at once.

"Hello."

Brushing the dust off herself, Liu Qingsong’s gaze still lingered on Lu Zixun, who was examining the Peeling Eucalyptus Tree.

From the moment Yang Tao had heard Liu Qingsong’s shout to the way she now looked at Lu Zixun, he quickly understood what she was worried about.

He laughed lightly and said, "Miss Liu need not worry. That is Lord Xun from the Demon Country. A Peeling Eucalyptus Tree poses no threat to him."

It was then that Liu Qingsong, who saw the patterns on Lu Zixun’s body, suddenly remembered the photo hanging inside STO headquarters... It was the person before her...

Feeling reassured, Liu Qingsong nodded and briefly explained the situation.

"Peeling Eucalyptus Disease appeared in Chuanyun City three days ago, in the morning. A white fog enveloped the city, and the virus hid within, spreading through respiration."

"And this Peeling Eucalyptus Tree was the first to die from the disease and transform as a result."

She raised her hand, pointing to the nearby Peeling Eucalyptus Tree, and sighed, "We once tried to eradicate this tree, but no matter the method, we couldn’t remove it. Instead, it triggered a Second Order Stage mutation."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zixun, observing the yellow-green Peeling Eucalyptus Tree before him and sensing the immense life force it exuded, narrowed his eyes.

Even for him, destroying this Peeling Eucalyptus Tree wasn’t going to be easy.

It bore the extraordinary power of the Life Goddess, protecting the tree in every way.

It seemed the Life Goddess intended to make Chuanyun City Her landing site, which was not good news at all.

"Now, STO has gathered the patients in the Chuanyun City Hospital to prevent a second spread of the disease. However, with the fog persisting, this method can only slow the spread, not contain it."

Hearing this, Lu Zixun looked up at Liu Qingsong, "Why not simply isolate Chuanyun City? When such a fast-spreading and high-fatality disease emerges, isn’t isolating the city the best option?"

The cat could actually talk!

Taken aback by Lu Zixun’s voice, Liu Qingsong paused, then replied with a helpless expression, "Indeed, that’s the first rule within STO, but we’re unable to enforce it."

Lu Zixun furrowed his brow.

The STO’s status in human society was such that they couldn’t initiate the first rule; who exactly was preventing this?

"It’s not that STO didn’t activate it, but that we didn’t allow it."

Seeing Lu Zixun frown, Qing Yuanyang quickly explained, "The appearance of this fog is similar to the one that appeared in the Insect Slaying Zone. Although we can disperse it, we can’t resolve the issue of the Plague Believers."

"Isolating Chuanyun City is the best method for now, but if the Plague Believers spread the Peeling Eucalyptus Disease to other cities, we would be at a disadvantage."

Pausing, Qing Yuanyang continued, "Moreover, from the fog in the Insect Slaying Zone, we concluded that the fog can’t be released in two places at once, which is why we didn’t allow STO to enact the first rule."

So that’s how it was...

Lu Zixun nodded slightly, indicating he understood.

After a while, seeing the Order Personnel waiting as if for him to give an order, Lu Zixun’s whiskers twitched.

With resignation, he said, "Why are you all looking at me? Do what you should be doing. I’m just here as a bodyguard."

Watching Lu Zixun walk over to the Peeling Eucalyptus Tree and pat it with his paw, Qing Yuanyang raised his hand to massage his temples.

With Lu Zixun present, there was an unconscious tendency to rely on him, which was not a good thing.

"Order combat personnel, form teams of five to search for the source of the fog. Everyone else, follow me to Chuanyun City Hospital."

After issuing the commands decisively, Qing Yuanyang looked to Lu Zixun, "Lord Xun, will you come with us?"

Having just retracted his paw and sensing the energy nourishing his body, Lu Zixun frowned slightly.

He was jolted back to reality by Qing Yuanyang’s question, "Of course, why wouldn’t I?"

Nonchalantly rubbing his paw on the ground, Lu Zixun’s gaze deepened.

If a Peeling Eucalyptus Tree transformed from a person had the property of nourishing a Spiritual Ability User’s body, that would be problematic.

For the death of a stranger, ordinary people would only feel regret and pity, but...

Once a stranger’s death could bring benefits, as long as you weren’t the one dying, everything changes.

Lu Zixun remembered a test he’d seen; if there were a button in front of you that, when pressed, would instantly credit ten million to your bank account at the cost of someone in the world dying, would you press it?

This move by the Life Goddess was undoubtedly a gift from a demon. The message had to be kept secret, otherwise...

For those haughty Spiritual Ability Users, the death of ordinary people didn’t matter.

On the way to the hospital with Qing Yuanyang and others, Lu Zixun texted the events to Zeng Haoyang using his phone.

Receiving the message, Zeng Haoyang only sent back an emoji.

It was a photo of Lu Zixun in his cat form, looking utterly bewildered, but with three question marks added on his forehead.

"..."

Seeing that emoji, Lu Zixun’s face darkened instantly; when had he become a walking emoji!

I beseech you to act with humanity!

"Currently, Spiritual Ability Users should not be touching the Peeling Eucalyptus Tree, as it’s filled with uncertainties. I will make sure the area around that tree is sealed off. Within a week, there shouldn’t be any issues."

Although Zeng Haoyang had made light of the situation, he quickly provided a solution. Finding it feasible, Lu Zixun felt considerably more at ease.

By this time, the shadow of the city hospital had already appeared in Lu Zixun’s vision.

He only took one glance before involuntarily gasping.

Above the city hospital, the scents of life and death intertwined, becoming inseparable.