Qu Huaiwei's body trembled, feeling an unimaginable terror.
Just as she was about to lose her support....
A grand and icy voice, as if formed by the resonance and superposition of countless wills, boomed directly in the depths of her Soul:
"What.....do you want?"
It was only five words.
But the spiritual Divine Might contained within them nearly caused Qu Huaiwei's spirit body to collapse.
Distorted agony swept through all her senses.
Her spirit body flickered violently, on the verge of collapse.
Yet, amidst this extreme pain and fear, an unspeakable ecstasy erupted in Qu Huaiwei's eyes.
It responded!
It finally responded!
She endured the tearing pain, struggling to keep her voice from breaking, and pleaded:
"True Monarch, I need help."
"Our family members, their spirits and bodies, have been contaminated by something incomprehensible. I have exhausted all my lifelong knowledge and tried all known methods, but I cannot awaken them."
"They are withering. I need your great power to save my family."
As her words fell, Qu Huaiwei prostrated herself on the ground.
She was extremely devout, without any distracting thoughts.
If before she was merely curious about this existence, but ever since witnessing Its great power, Qu Huaiwei was already desperate.
"For every request, there is a price."
The magnificent voice resounded again, like an icy Law being declared.
"What are you willing to pay?"
Price?
Qu Huaiwei did not hesitate. She raised her head, her voice filled with the resolve of cutting off all retreat:
"My life!"
"My everything!"
"My Soul!"
"As long as you can save her! I am willing to pay any price!"
Silence.
A deathly silence enveloped this shadow-covered area.
Gray mist.
It churned silently.
After a long time, the grand voice finally sounded again, with an indifference that overlooked the dust:
"Your request, I have received."
The voice dissipated, and the enormous shadow head slowly turned back to its original position, returning to silence.
The pressure on Qu Huaiwei also receded.
There was no promise, no guarantee, only a cold "received."
But Qu Huaiwei felt as if she had heard the sound of heaven.
She collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
It seemed she had made the right gamble this time!
This existence, It was not like those mad and twisted Outer Gods; It possessed wisdom.
It was willing to listen, and that was enough.
Even if there was only a slim hope.
Qu Huaiwei struggled to stand up, bowed deeply to the giant shadow that had once again become distant, and prepared to leave.
Just then, a calm voice came from the thick fog behind her:
"Your idea is correct."
Qu Huaiwei turned around to see the young man in a dark-colored long gown, with a face so handsome it seemed unlike a Mortal.
At some point, the young man had stood at the edge of the mist.
It was precisely the existence who called himself "Envoy"!
"You mean, about being able to collect spiritual energy?" Qu Huaiwei quickly asked.
Xuan Hao nodded slightly: "The True Monarch's great power will eventually sweep the world, but before that, It needs more firewood to ignite the fire of recovery. You... go do it."
"Yes, I understand."
Qu Huaiwei's eyes flashed with determination, no longer showing any hesitation.
"I will do my utmost."
She bowed again, her voice filled with unprecedented resolve.
Watching the long-haired young man turn to leave, Qu Huaiwei suddenly asked: "Ambassador, what is your name?"
"Xuan Hao."
His figure gradually disappeared.
But hearing this name, Qu Huaiwei was momentarily stunned.
During this time, she had been frantically consulting old-era material , which was why she adopted the codename "Xuanmiao Zhenren."
The title of "Immortal Master" seemed very powerful in the old era.
The name "Xuanmiao" was also something she found in ancient material .
But this young man was actually called Xuan Hao?
Their names were surprisingly similar.
Qu Huaiwei smiled, but her smile abruptly froze.
The name Xuanmiao was found in ancient books, and the young man in front of her was called Xuan Hao, did this mean....
She suddenly felt a chilling realization.
Could it be that this young man was a powerful existence from the old era?
That was two thousand years ago....
If her guess was correct, then how terrifying was the existence behind Xuan Hao?
....
At the same time, an unknown base.
On the huge screen, images flickered.
Tang Zhan leaned back in his chair, his long legs casually resting on the edge of the control panel, an apple playfully tossed in his hand.
His eyes were sharp as he scanned the information scrolling across the screen.
"In the past month, the activity frequency of Corpse Disassembly Immortal... has surged." Rose pushed a report in front of Tang Zhan.
"Is that so...."
Tang Zhan stopped tossing the apple.
"Where?"
A glimmer flashed in his eyes.
"In dreams."
Rose uttered two words.
"Hmm?" Tang Zhan frowned, "In dreams? What does that mean?"
Rose pulled up several document files and said: "According to investigations, there are now 126 reported contacts who claim to have encountered a Corpse Disassembly Immortal."
"Without exception, they all entered a strange space shrouded in gray-white thick fog while in deep sleep, their consciousness entering it...."
"All contactees' sensations were exceptionally clear."
"They could even remain conscious in their dreams, communicate freely, perceive the environment, just like in reality."
"Not in reality?"
Tang Zhan raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Not necessarily."
Rose operated the computer, and an image appeared on it.
It was a dead silent street, swallowed by boundless gray fog, with a colossal three-headed, six-armed shadow suspended high in the sky.
"This is an image we synthesized using computer technology based on the contactees' descriptions," Rose said.
"So?"
Tang Zhan tilted his head and asked.
Rose then pulled up another image, almost identical to the technologically synthesized one.
Aside from the enveloping gray fog, there was an 80% similarity.
"Specifically where?"
Tang Zhan's voice grew colder.
Rose pointed to the map, outlining an area: "Financial Street, the core business district."
As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Zhan had already vanished from the chair.
"You want to go directly?" Rose asked.
Tang Zhan's figure appeared at the doorway, his eyes cold: "Otherwise? Wait for It to invite me for tea?"
"We've already investigated."
Rose shook her head helplessly, "Financial Street is all normal, no energy anomalies, no residual spiritual pollution, not even signs of spatial distortion."
Tang Zhan raised his eyebrows.
Rose continued: "I just said, all contact occurred in dreams, it was an encounter on the consciousness level. The real world... is calm and peaceful!"
The technician next to her stepped forward, pulling out a document:
"This is a detailed analysis of the 126 reported cases currently compiled. We can basically confirm that this is an extremely special, collective spiritual projection phenomenon."
"They are not having the same dream, but rather...."
"Their consciousness, under some unknown power, was guided to the same... spiritual space."
Rose took over, her tone heavy:
"They have formed an organization."
"This group calls themselves the Corpse Immortal Path."
"The conservative estimate of members is over thirty, all wearing masks to hide their identities. In that dream space, even if our investigators successfully infiltrate, they cannot track their real-world identity information."
....
"Spiritual space... Corpse Immortal Path...."
Tang Zhan chewed on these two words, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable, "Everyone gathers in the same dream? And can form an organization? Interesting."
"Any more information?" Tang Zhan asked.
The Martial Artist next to him pulled up a file, and a photo of a beautiful young girl appeared on the screen.
"Qiao Ling'er, a first-year student at Star Martial Academy."
"According to feedback from our embedded eyes, she frequently appears in that foggy area, but has not officially joined the Corpse Immortal Path. However, we should be able to start with her."
Hearing this, Tang Zhan's gaze swept over.
"Qiao Ling'er...."
He softly recited the name, then turned and left.