Chapter 1113: The Destruction Begins
"O... Old Lyu..."
Aunt Tong grabbed Old Lyu's arm and pulled him away from the crowd to the wall, her expression anxious as she said, "Oh my, how did you get here?"
"The hell I can't come?" Old Lyu also glanced around at the people nearby. "Xiao Chan, what exactly are you all doing here? Is this some mission from 'Paradise Gate'...? Who are these people?"
"Old Lyu... oh my... it's hard to explain!" Aunt Tong said. "Anyway, this place is really dangerous. You need to leave first."
"The hell I'm leaving!" Old Lyu said. "Didn't we agree to tell each other everything? You're..."
Aunt Tong's expression suddenly turned a bit unnatural. She quickly reached out and grabbed Old Lyu's arm, cutting him off.
"Hey!" she whispered. "There are so many kids here... don't just..."
"Is it the 'Mother Goddess' who told you to keep it from me?" Old Lyu asked. "Such a big scene... and there's some strange white-bearded old man standing guard ahead. You said yourself this place looks dangerous, and yet you came here quietly on your own?"
"This has nothing to do with the 'Mother Goddess'!" Aunt Tong frowned. "To be honest... Old Lyu, the 'Mother Goddess' never hinted that you would appear in my life... Our relationship isn't blessed by the 'Mother Goddess'."
"What the hell does the 'Mother Goddess's blessing' have to do with anything..." Old Lyu said. "Doesn't the Mother Goddess know that you're called Xiao Chan and I'm called Lyu Fengxian? Isn't that a match made in heaven?"
"You..." Aunt Tong's face grew more and more unpleasant. "Have you no shame? Do you know what time it is? And besides, we're both at this age... who cares about our relationship? There are more important things to do right now!"
"I don't care..." Old Lyu said. "Xiao Chan, you have to take me this time. I can definitely help."
"Stop messing around!" Aunt Tong was clearly getting angry. "We can keep each other company here... but don't you know that once we leave... everything in the 'Land of End' will disappear?"
"I don't care about all that!" Old Lyu said. "My wife is gone, and all these years I've only remembered the two of us relying on each other. So this time, I damn well have to help you no matter what. Just tell me what needs to be done!"
"You..."
"To all Participants and Zodiacs currently in action."
Just as the two were about to say more, a tremendous voice suddenly came from high above.
The voice seemed different from Yan Zhichun's "Heavenly Sound Fall," not only differing in tone but also in the way it spread. If "Heavenly Sound Fall" whispered convincing words into each person's ear, this voice crashed down like a thunderbolt from the sky.
"We are interrupting with a temporary reward announcement. Please listen carefully."
Those around them looked up, trying to find the source of the tremendous voice, but they couldn't identify its direction.
"At present, a group of rebels has appeared in the south square of the entire city, attempting to destroy the giant bell and display screen. Anyone—be it Zodiac or Participant—who can stop this rebellion will be rewarded with one thousand units of Dao."
Yan Zhichun and Jiang Ruoxue frowned upon hearing the voice. They had expected the mission to be difficult, but not this difficult.
"Zodiacs, you heard correctly. From now on, I, Tianniu, authorize you to temporarily leave your posts and guarantee your safety. The one thousand Dao are already prepared, to be awarded only to the team or individual who ultimately succeeds in the blockade. I wish you all a smooth victory."
All the "Supreme Path Practitioners" present began to look troubled. What unsettled them even more was that movements were already stirring nearby.
After all, in the eyes of ordinary people, one thousand units of "Dao" were nearly one-third of the escape target—an extraordinary reward they might not obtain even after dozens of cycles.
"From now on, most of the people who come here will be 'Resounders' with preserved memories," Yan Zhichun said with a heavy expression. "A small number will be 'Participants' who don't know the truth and are just here for the show. It looks like we need to make an example of someone."
"Sigh, 'Participants' are easy enough, but what about the 'Zodiacs'?" Zhou Mo asked.
"'Zodiacs' are nothing to fear," Yan Zhichun said. "A reward of one thousand Dao will only attract 'Human-Level Zodiacs.' Brother Yang once told me that 'Earth-Level Zodiacs' have no need for Dao."
As they spoke, heads began to gather in the distance. It seemed the rebels were far more numerous than they had expected—at least a hundred people.
Many stragglers who had just arrived could only watch from afar, but everyone knew that their numbers would only grow, and a full assault was just a matter of time.
"Strike now while we can," Yan Zhichun said. "Everyone's first target is the display screen! Seize the mission objective before the 'Participants' can assemble!"
The moment she finished speaking, one "Supreme Path Practitioner" rushed forward a few steps and waved his hands. A massive sandstorm appeared out of nowhere, and countless grains of sand and small stones clattered against the display screen.
White Tiger's expression turned cold. He also raised a hand, and a strange gale burst from his sleeve, instantly sweeping away the sandstorm.
The force of the wind was immense. Those closest were lifted half a meter off the ground and fell awkwardly.
On the rooftop, Jiang Shihe raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sand, then said quietly, "That's 'Gale Force.'"
More and more "Supreme Path Practitioners" began using their "Echoes" to attack the giant bell and display screen.
But most of the "Echoes" they used could only cause slight wear and tear on the display screen, not any real damage.
Just then, an exceptionally obese girl stepped forward. Her pudgy hands clasped together, and a strange "Echo" named "Expansion" appeared on the display screen.
Then came a creaking sound. One of the giant metal pillars supporting the display screen began to crack, as if expanding from within.
White Tiger sensed trouble and waved both hands. A gale beyond human tolerance rushed toward the girl's face, causing ripples to spread across her skin.
"Xiaoxiao!" the girl shouted.
In the distance, Xiaoxiao understood immediately. She closed her eyes and pointed at the many "Participants" rushing over from afar. The "Echo" of "Frame-up" manifested in the wind.
The next second, the wind pressing down on the obese girl vanished, while the distant "Participants" were blown into the sky.
Seeing that the obese girl's attack was stabilizing, Yan Zhichun immediately ran through the nearby gusts and dust toward Dr. Zhao.
"Dr. Zhao!" Yan Zhichun called out. "Do you see what's happening?! We're running out of time!"
Dr. Zhao remained standing there, stunned, as if he hadn't snapped out of it from earlier.