Zhong Guoqing and Zhong Li were also in the crowd, drenched to the bone by the rain, glancing back from time to time.

They seemed to be fumbling for something.

The toxic mist spread with the wind, and the monster that Madame Yan had transformed into was slaughtering recklessly among the crowd—an absolute bloodbath.

Suddenly, the roar of car engines echoed from outside the port.

Dozens of nano warriors charged into the chaos fearlessly, as if blind to the peril around them.

These were the warriors of the Dawn Combat Sequence, the true backbone of the Ether Association.

Gu Jianlin silently observed everything unfolding before him.

Water streamed down their rain-drenched faces, but in his eyes, they each wore entirely different expressions.

Some grotesque, some despairing, some ferocious, and others holding on through gritted teeth.

By his estimation, in just ten minutes, this monstrosity could kill everyone here.

Earlier, Jing Ci had asked him why he chose to step forward.

Perhaps it was for Fu Chaoyang and Fu Qingxuan, who were crucial witnesses.

Or maybe for Lu Zicheng and Chen Qing, people who mattered to him deeply.

It could also have been for people like Zhong Guoqing and Zhong Li.

And there was another reason—he needed this trial by life and death to grow stronger.

Fine, courage doesn't need a reason.

—Nor does it need a choice.

The wind and rain recoiled, lightning cut across the sky, and thunder roared, shaking the dark world.

The grocery store vanished silently.

Gu Jianlin stood alone in the darkness, tearing off the human skin mask from his face in silence. His soaked black hair clung to his face as he fiercely gripped the Desert Eagle in his hand.

He raised the gun and took aim.

Bam!

The gunshot tore through the storm, a fleeting line of fire cutting briefly across the dark rain.

The monstrous creature that had been feasting insatiably on the crowd suddenly froze; a bullet had embedded itself in the back of her skull.

Thick, dark green blood dripped down as she turned her head in stunned disbelief.

In that instant, the black-haired boy in the storm leveled his smoking gun at her from afar.

"Do you recognize me?"

He paused, then said coldly: "—When your two sons died, they suffered far more than any of these people ever will."

For a fleeting moment, boundless madness flickered in Madame Yan's mutated blood-red eyes.

In some twisted way, she truly was a great mother—mutated to this horrifying extent, yet she still recognized the one who avenged her sons and let out a bone-chilling roar!

Boom!

The wind and rain scattered as the stench of blood whipped through the air.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Six consecutive gunshots riddled her body, causing foul, dark green blood to splatter everywhere.

His marksmanship wasn't precise.

But it served wonderfully as provocation!

Boom!

Madame Yan leaped into the air with a thunderous crash, lunging toward the distant youth.

A pale Ghost Fire ignited abruptly on Gu Jianlin's forehead, the whites of his eyes swallowed by darkness. He now resembled an Evil Spirit gazing out from the bowels of Hell, his body emanating a chilling ghost energy, ominous and sinister!

At that moment, a massive shadow hurtled toward him.

With a deafening crash!

Gu Jianlin opened the black metal umbrella in his hand. The sheer impact reverberated through the umbrella's surface into his body, leaving his hands trembling with numbness as he slid backward through the storm-drenched streets.

He slid back nearly twenty meters before he barely came to a halt!

So strong!

Madame Yan was a Fourth Rank Ascender, further enhanced by Gu Worms—her physical capabilities completely outclassed his!

Meanwhile, the ghostly green toxic mist surged toward him, and he inhaled it all without hesitation.

"Hah."

Gu Jianlin exhaled slowly, his obsidian-black pupils remaining menacingly cold.

Good. Although the Heavenly Person Realm suppressed his Ancient God abilities, his passive traits remained.

The will of an Ancient Supreme was immune to external interference.

Deep breath. Feel the ebb and flow of the Spiritual Tide.

Do not be afraid.

Do not panic.

Relax.

"Come on, let's play."

He chuckled softly, then vanished in a blur, retreating into the abandoned ship's stern behind him.

Roar!

Madame Yan howled ferociously, her massive worm-like body leaping forward without hesitation, giving chase!

·

·

At that moment, the encrypted channel of the Omega Sequence connected.

As did the wartime communications channel for the Peak City District.

Everyone linked to the Deep Space Network heard a singular voice resonating through the storm—aloof, cold, and unattainable.

"The plan was well-crafted. Don't bother doing it again."

In his Ghost Transformation state, Gu Jianlin's emotions plunged into extreme negativity. He said apathetically: "If you're incompetent, then stay out of the way. Useless trash should focus on doing what trash is good for."

He paused for a moment: "I'll buy you fifteen minutes. During that time, no one will become a host for those Gu Worms. Meanwhile, you'd better figure out how to neutralize the poison."

The transmission cut off.

In the storm, everyone fell silent.

They had never encountered someone so chillingly independent and arrogant, speaking in such a condescending tone.

As if to say, "I don't mean to single you out, but everyone here is garbage."

Councilman Zhang's face darkened with suppressed rage as he heard the voice. "Who is this?"

Nie, the Deacon sitting nearby, had gone deathly pale, as if suffering from post-traumatic stress: "Gu... Gu Jianlin. Peak City District. D-rank investigator. Gu Jianlin. The one who killed a Captain-Level enforcer, eliminated the Yan brothers, openly defied the Judgement Court, and joined the Omega Sequence."

Outside the helicopter cabin, Li Hanting stroked his pet softly and asked in a low voice: "What did he just say?"

"Boss, he called you trash."

A woman cloaked in a Wizard Robe, clutching a crystal staff, replied faintly: "Though from his tone, it seems he considers all of us trash."

The voice of Jue Jian broke through the communications channel: "Save it; I think he's specifically talking about your Judgement Court."

No one responded.

Meanwhile, the red dot on the tablet's map began moving rapidly away from the denser areas of the crowd.

That guy—he really went through with it. He was actually drawing the creature away!

This man—is he insane?

·

·

The helicopter sliced through the heavens like a streak of black lightning.

Bam!

Chen Bojun slammed his fist against the cabin wall and muttered gravely: "Is this kid out of his mind?"

The tablet showed the red dot speeding away.

Proof that the young man had truly lured the monster away and was now fighting alone.

Ying Changsheng squinted his sharp, narrow eyes slightly as he heard the voice through the channel, raising an eyebrow. "Director Chen, who is this lunatic? He just called all of us trash?"

"A blanket insult; don't take it too seriously."

Chen Bojun hesitated for a moment. "I believe he meant the Judgement Court specifically."

Ying Changsheng nodded slightly. "Quite true. Well said!"

"Faster. I'm worried something might happen to him."

Chen Bojun said in a low tone.

Just then, lightning and thunder roared across the heavens, and a petite black figure dove down from the skies.

Lu Zijin hovered mid-air, her surging psychic influence keeping her aloft. Her black hair danced wildly in the storm, her eyes fierce and unyielding. She didn't so much as glance at the group below as she dove toward West Port.

Evidently, she had heard the voice on the communications channel moments ago.

This was a race against time.

Every second was a battle.

[PS: This book is exclusively launched on the Qidian Reading App. Next chapter at 11:30 PM. Support official releases by reading licensed translations.]