The military green pickup truck bearing the inspection station's logo slowly drove out of South Station from the other side of the gate.

The truck turned at the intersection, heading straight toward Happiness Gate.

Affected by Liu Kun leaving the city, those wanting to attend the inner city meeting had to drive themselves.

Therefore, this time the driver's seat had changed occupants, with Jiang Chuan gripping the steering wheel with both hands.

Ding Yishan sat in the passenger seat, gazing at the scenery flying past outside the window, his expression calm.

Under normal circumstances, the inspection station's vehicle would certainly be stopped by guards and unable to enter the inner city but at this moment, neither man was in the mood to ponder such matters, or rather, didn't consider it something requiring thought.

From yesterday to today, they hadn't closed their eyes for 26 hours.

Even as a half-step transcendent, Jiang Chuan was struggling to cope, relying on special stimulants this morning to stay alert.

Strangely though, Ding Yishan sitting in the passenger seat showed no fatigue whatsoever, instead feeling invigorated.

An invisible force rose from his tailbone, winding up along his spine, supporting his shoulder blades, pushing at his temples, even his breathing carried an unprecedented smoothness.

He could even clearly feel this force surging in his chest cavity, like a beast ready to strike, urging him to do that thing he'd thought about for years but never dared take the first step toward.

Ding Yishan understood clearly that this special force was called "Walker."

But he didn't care.

Or rather, he'd been waiting for this day far too long.

The "opportunity" he'd mentioned to Jiang Chuan earlier wasn't actually referring to those hundreds of thousands of migrants outside, but this transcendent power that had suddenly surged into his consciousness!

Because ever since sitting in the inspection station chief position, given his age and temperament, given his years of experience and knowledge immersed in power dynamics, trying to push through sweeping changes with his own strength had long become a fantasy.

The rationality honed by decades in power games was like invisible shackles, always pulling him back at crucial moments to calculate risks, weigh pros and cons, consider higher-ups' attitudes, worry about various opinions.

Even if the sky fell, his remaining rationality would force him to choose the safest path, following old tracks day after day in "service" to Happiness City until ground to dust by the wheels of time.

But now things were different.

Cheng Ye's words were like a key that opened the door to his personality, releasing all the wildness hidden deep within.

Under transcendent power, this awakened wildness continuously amplified, letting him clearly see the benefits of change while making those risks that once made him hesitate seem insignificant.

Only at this moment, only borrowing this sudden external force, only relying on the nearly domineering mental impact of the Wish-Guarding Transcendent.

Could he tear open those chains and smash these shackles.

Like a trapped beast breaking free from restraints, tearing apart all enemies before him!

"Achuan."

"Yes, sir."

"When you said before that Cheng Ye was very much like me, was that false or true?"

"Of course it was true. Achuan would never speak a false word to you, sir, not before, not ever."

Jiang Chuan gripped the steering wheel, his gaze falling on the rain-soaked road ahead, his tone carrying some solemnity, "The first time I saw him, that feeling was exactly like when you were young!"

He paused, gently turning the steering wheel to avoid puddles by the roadside, earning a thumbs up from pedestrians:

"Including when he spoke with you just now, that stubborn persistence regardless of consequences was just like you in your youth, only..."

"Only what?"

Jiang Chuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he carefully chose his words: "Sir, Inspector Cheng is a very intelligent person. I can feel he has a tenacity different from ordinary people, and his mind works quickly, but he's ultimately still a young man. What he said just now carried some of that youthful arrogance. Please don't take it to heart."

After all these years, forget about trainee inspectors, even third-term Eastern inspectors had to speak properly and respectfully when meeting Ding Yishan.

Only fourth-term inspectors had the qualification to communicate equally with Ding Yishan, discussing station matters large and small.

Going further back, even when Cheng Long was young, he would deliberately maintain proper measure in front of Ding Yishan.

Unlike Cheng Ye just now, who actually dared to boldly make Ding Yishan remove his clothes and stand by the window in the cold wind.

Was this something a trainee should do?

He hadn't reacted at the time, but thinking about it now made him increasingly alarmed.

If Cheng Ye had gone even further and angered Ding Yishan, he caught in the middle couldn't even think of words to smooth things over.

After all, listening to these two intelligent people communicate left him confused and embarrassed.

"Ha, Achuan, do you think I'd care about that?"

Ding Yishan chuckled, his fingertips lightly tapping on his knee, "When Cheng Wu was still station chief, forget about inspectors, even station guards could directly burst into his office and point at his nose saying which rules were unreasonable. Especially during the biannual opinion days, he could receive three to five hundred people in one day, getting cursed bloody while a circle of people stood outside watching the show. Did you ever see him lose his temper once?"

"Sir, that was then, now is different."

Jiang Chuan anxiously defended, "Besides, Inspector Cheng can't become transcendent, so he dares to be so unrestrained. If you learned from him..."

"Now is the same, no different." Ding Yishan interrupted him, his eyes carrying unquestionable seriousness, "If the price of becoming transcendent is giving up the right to hear these voices, I'd rather remain an ordinary person forever."

"But you've tried too. Do you think this will affect anything?"

Jiang Chuan fell silent for a moment, adjusting the windshield wipers, which made rhythmic sounds.

Only after the wipers stopped did he say, "The more concepts you accept, the harder it becomes to achieve unity of knowledge and action. If you still want to break through to transcendent, you shouldn't listen to these miscellaneous words. Like Station Chief Harlin, only keeping people whose thoughts align with yours, clearing out all who don't, only then can you focus without distraction."

"He went wrong!"

Ding Yishan shook his head decisively, his tone carrying disdain, "He didn't even take the first step correctly, same nature as that old bastard Downs. Concepts that can resist pollution need tempering through thousands of trials, need the ability to shatter other distracting thoughts, not achieved by covering your ears and pretending not to hear."

"But this path..." Jiang Chuan sighed, "Besides the founding elders, no one has been able to walk this path since."

"Wasn't Cheng Long one?"

Ding Yishan chuckled twice, his laughter carrying indescribable complexity, "If he hadn't single-mindedly drilled into the Wish-Guarding path, he would have become transcendent long ago. Such a pity..."

"Inspector Cheng is different from others. Since the City Lord didn't pursue further, perhaps..."

"Meaningless. Don't mention that name again, and don't let Cheng Ye know anything about it. Just consider him dead."

Ding Yishan's expression suddenly darkened, "Ten thousand transcendent beings couldn't achieve one Wish-Guardian. All these Wish-Guardians are calamities, disasters more troublesome than curses. If Cheng Long could achieve Wish-Guardian status, he'd be humanity's public enemy!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuan quickly responded, not daring to say another word.

Cheng Long's departure was a thorn embedded in Ding Yishan's heart that couldn't be pulled out.

Normally, no one dared mention it. Only when Ding Yishan brought it up himself could others add a sentence.

Anyone who rashly brought it up would definitely face Ding Yishan's immediate fury.

While speaking, the pickup truck had already entered the urban area. Though the buffer zone had lost hundreds of thousands of people and should have seemed empty and desolate, under Walker's influence, even with rain still falling outside, quite a few pedestrians could be seen on the streets.

Workers clearing sewers worked enthusiastically, no one complaining about the rain, no one slacking off. Everyone's eyes shone with light, the air itself carrying long-missed vitality.

This was Walker's terrifying aspect. It didn't even need to deliberately do anything, just passing through was like a shot of adrenaline, bringing the lifeless buffer zone back to life but precisely because of this, people felt terror toward the power of Wish-Guarding Transcendents.

Being able to easily stir hearts and instantly change order, such power was simply too frightening!

Ding Yishan stared out the window for a moment, then suddenly said again, "According to information from Xinghuo, we can now confirm that Walker is definitely a transcendent from the previous era. This damn thing has been hiding for decades, only daring to show itself after confirming that the last transcendent artifact in Xinghuo's hands was exhausted. Really don't know what his wish could be to let him endure for so long."

"Sir, could transcendent artifacts from the previous era really kill those immortal Wish-Guarding Transcendents?"

Jiang Chuan couldn't help asking. He'd seen that recorded video.

Walker's running speed in the wasteland was at least two hundred miles per hour, like a cannonball charging straight through. When encountering infected entities and mutant beasts, it didn't detour at all, directly ramming through and instantly pulverizing them into blood mist.

It did the same when hitting abandoned buildings, steel and concrete as fragile as crackers before it.

That scene was simply beyond description in its horror.

Fortunately, such monsters had no interest in human sanctuary cities, otherwise just thinking about it sent chills down one's spine.

"Don't know."

Ding Yishan shook his head, "Perhaps they can only cause severe damage, perhaps they can directly tear apart their wish foundations and make them lose their characteristics. Anyway, when the major super sanctuary cities still possessed transcendent artifacts, we never saw Wish-Guarding Transcendents dare show themselves so brazenly. Only in these ten-plus years, with transcendent artifacts completely exhausted, have these things emerged like bamboo shoots after rain."

As his words fell, the cabin suddenly fell into complete silence.

Reaching the urban area, neither man was in the mood for idle chat, each withdrawing their thoughts.

Soon, they arrived at Happiness Gate.

Jiang Chuan's last entry qualification for this year had been used yesterday, it wouldn't be replenished until next year.

Guards directly blocked them, signaling the vehicle to stop.

The passenger window opened, and the guard captain from before walked up, scanning the cabin.

"Station Chief Ding, your guard this year can no longer enter..."

"Scram."

Ding Yishan's voice carried no warmth, indifferent eyes projecting from the window, "Have Chu Hong come see me."

"Huh?"

The guard captain was suddenly stunned, his professional fake smile instantly freezing.

Under normal circumstances, even encountering such situations, Ding Yishan would at least get out and say a few polite words, either finding other channels to accommodate or simply having Jiang Chuan stay behind.

But today's look, this tone, actually made the hair on his neck stand up.

The word "rules" that reached his lips stuck in his throat, the guard captain ultimately not daring to speak.

His expression ugly, he stepped back, squeezing out a smile more unsightly than crying, hastily picking up his defense communicator, "Chu, Captain Chu, Station Chief Ding is at the gate, wants you to come personally."

"Is that so?"

A deep male voice came through the communicator, carrying casual indifference, "I'm busy here. Whatever it is, have him speak to me directly?"

"Station Chief Ding, Captain Chu's call..."

The guard captain steeled himself and stepped forward, pressing the speaker button.

"Old Ding, what's so urgent that..."

"Ha, who gave you the right to call me Old Ding?"

Ding Yishan chuckled coldly, directly interrupting, "Chu Hong, I'm giving you three minutes. Get your ass over here to see me."

He paused, his tone carrying unquestionable oppressive force, "If I hear that form of address from your mouth again, you won't need to stay in Happiness City. Pack up and go to the wasteland to keep the Hundred Ghosts Gang company."

?

In the office behind the high wall, the tall man holding a teacup suddenly frowned and stood up, his composure instantly shattering.

Did he eat gunpowder? When had Ding Yishan ever spoken to him in this tone?

Chu Hong's grip on the communicator tightened, his chest rising and falling twice, but ultimately he didn't dare talk back.

Having power but not using it, and lacking power but pretending, were two different things.

And Ding Yishan was clearly the former.

Don't look at how the inspection station was now in decline, if he really spoke up, forget about throwing him out, throwing out everyone in the office would be no problem.

"Understood." Chu Hong's voice deepened, carrying suppressed anger, "Station Chief Ding, I'll be right there!"

After hanging up, the guard captain stood by the car, his palms sweating.

He secretly glanced up at Ding Yishan in the window. This usually amiable Station Chief Ding maintained the same posture as before, eyes calmly looking ahead, but that invisible pressure made him even lighten his breathing.

Under the city gate, Chu Hong jogged over, a sturdy middle-aged man.

Jiang Chuan sat in the driver's seat, removing his hands from the steering wheel, his gaze sharp.

Able to shoulder the responsibility of guarding the gate, though Chu Hong wasn't a transcendent, he wasn't ordinary either.

Like him, he was someone who couldn't withstand transcendent pollution but managed to preserve his life through luck, retaining some special abilities as a half-step transcendent.

"Station Chief Ding..." Chu Hong had just opened his mouth when Ding Yishan interrupted.

"Give Jiang Chuan unlimited entry privileges, and this vehicle too."

Ding Yishan's gaze didn't look at him, still falling on the city road beyond the gate, "I may need to frequently enter the inner city for meetings recently. Don't go through this routine every time."

"This..." Chu Hong's expression changed several times, veins at his temples jumping, "According to rules, unlimited privileges require at least the Deputy City Lord's..."

"I'm giving you one chance to make a phone call." Ding Yishan said flatly, his tone allowing no room for negotiation.

"..." Chu Hong's expression changed, staring at Ding Yishan's calm profile, mentally going through every curse he knew but ultimately holding back.

Walking aside, he pulled out his defense communicator and made a call.

The call connected quickly. Chu Hong lowered his voice and spoke briefly, the content as short as a weather report but after hanging up and turning back, his face already bore a smile that could be called fawning, "Yes, Station Chief Ding! Rest assured, I'll immediately arrange for Jiang Chuan's privileges to be opened, and register your vehicle for inspection-free passage. If you have any needs in the future, just call me directly and I guarantee everything will be handled perfectly!"

"Drive."

Ding Yishan continued staring ahead, not even lifting an eyelid at this fawning display.

Jiang Chuan took a deep breath and pressed the gas pedal.

The pickup truck slowly glided through the gate tunnel. Only after it completely disappeared did the smile on Chu Hong's face instantly fade, his expression dark enough to drip water.

With one phone call, he hadn't received any information, only four words: comply completely.

This was interesting. Was Happiness City's power structure about to change?

Or perhaps...

He unconsciously looked toward the direction outside the city, where the outlines of ruins could vaguely be seen in the gray misty rain.

Though he didn't yet know about Walker and those hundreds of thousands of migrants, Chu Hong felt an inexplicable chill at the back of his neck, vaguely sensing something.

Storm clouds were gathering!

The pickup truck drove into the square meeting hall.

As soon as Jiang Chuan parked the car and was preparing to get out and escort Ding Yishan into the meeting hall, his shoulder was pressed by a warm hand.

"Achuan, go buy me some things later, some fruit. They're still quite rare now."

As he spoke, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch, as if remembering something: "Also go to the research institute and find Old Zhang. He's hiding quite a few books about Wish-Guarding Transcendents and source rail technology. Give my name and borrow everything you can, bring it all out for Cheng Ye."

"Sir..." Jiang Chuan's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Don't overthink it."

Ding Yishan saw through his thoughts, smiling and shaking his head, "The inspection station's trials were never targeted at anyone. When I first came in, I was in much worse shape than he is now. To carry the flag, one must walk through these checkpoints step by step with solid footing before truly standing firm."

Speaking, he pushed open the car door, his foot landing on the wet cement ground, his voice coming through the half-open window, "As for the grudges Cheng Long left behind, starting today, he's settled them!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuan's heart shook, quickly straightening his spine, showing a respectful expression on his face.

After being influenced by Walker's power, Ding Yishan seemed to have returned overnight to over ten years ago.

That decisiveness, that toughness, even his speaking tone had recovered its former sharpness.

Both familiar and strange.

Only after Ding Yishan's figure disappeared behind the meeting hall doors did Jiang Chuan finally let out a long sigh.

Too fast.

Since Liu Bi's departure, just over half a month had passed, yet Cheng Ye had already proven his worth through strength.

Admittedly, it was a series of events, especially Walker, that brought this perfect opportunity but without real skills, how many trainee inspectors could seize such a chance?

Restarting the vehicle, the pickup truck slowly drove out of the meeting hall.

In the rearview mirror, that square building grew smaller and smaller.

Jiang Chuan's grip on the steering wheel suddenly tightened, feeling momentarily dizzy as a strange thought emerged in his mind.

Perhaps after today's meeting, many things in Happiness City would never be the same again!

[NEXT CHAPTER]