Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 211: Immortal Object Fragment, Top-level Decision!

The night wind carried an unnaturally scorching heat.A faint, almost imperceptible current of warm air gently enveloped Cheng Ye's body, feeling exactly like the winter hearth at the orphanage from his childhood.

Whenever it snowed, the children would gather around the stove, either humming softly or pulling out hidden potatoes and sweet potatoes, stuffing them into the gaps beneath the flames to bake until they smelled delicious.

"I apologize. I did not expect our first formal meeting to be under such circumstances."

Liu Kun gave a slight nod, his tone much gentler than before. "The situation in Dabo Town is still being analyzed. Please stand here for now and do not make any sudden movements."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "Next, we will conduct a thorough examination to ensure you carry no risk of infection, and..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly leaned forward and blew a gentle breath.

Boom!

Like an erupting volcano, a pillar of fire abruptly shot up from the ground, soaring over ten meters into the night sky. The scorching shockwave caused the surrounding people to instinctively step back.

Immediately after, the center of the fire pillar expanded outward, the flying sparks rapidly weaving and assembling in the air.

With a loud rumble, it transformed into a fiery red cage with an interior of about ten square meters. The bars, forged from pure flame, emanated a translucent crimson glow, exuding an aura of surreal magic.

"No reaction?"

Seeing Cheng Ye's somewhat calm expression, a flash of surprise crossed Liu Kun's eyes. However, he did not dispel the cage right away. Instead, he took a step back, gesturing for the people behind him to step forward.

Among the over twenty people standing in a row with Ding Yishan, besides the Station Master and Deputy Station Master of the Inspection Station, there were several Fourth-Stage Inspectors Cheng Ye had met over the past few days. There was also Bai Wei, the Emergency Response Chief at the Command Center whom he had encountered when the Mist Hole opened, and even senior researchers from the Research Institute.

Cheng Ye calmly swept his gaze over the crowd, feeling a hint of emotion in his heart.

Aside from Ding Yishan, Halin, Jiang Chuan, and Bai Wei, the eyes of the others held varying degrees of complexity. Upon closer inspection, one could find a trace of imperceptible fear hidden beneath that complexity.

'Are they afraid of me?'

'Or are they afraid of the Infection Source I might be carrying?'

'Or perhaps they fear whatever it is that affected Dabo Town?'

The crowd exchanged glances, and surprisingly, it was Deputy Station Master Halin who stepped forward first.

As a rare top-tier talent within the Inspector ranks, he took a step forward, his tone steady. "Cheng Ye, since you are an Inspector who passed your assessment under my supervision, it is only natural that I take charge of your examination."

Halin signaled the soldiers behind him to bring over a table and a chair. After taking a seat, he softened his voice. "You do not need to be nervous.

Although we have already detected Ruin-level energy fluctuations in Dabo Town, and based on past data, only one survivor might emerge out of every 127,100 Ruin-level disasters, we will still treat you as a normal human being rather than a potential Infected Body, even if there is only a sliver of hope. Do you understand?"

Being examined so formally for the first time, Cheng Ye paused for a moment before nodding gently.

"Excellent. You are an Inspector yourself and are familiar with the examination process, so we will not beat around the bush."

Halin sat up straight, his eyes turning stern. "Please recount your encounters and discoveries throughout the entire day, starting from the moment you entered Dabo Town for your assessment. Do not deliberately edit your wording. Even if you make a mistake or omit something, just keep talking until you reach the present situation."

"Wait."

Cheng Ye shook his head lightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable persistence. "Before I answer, may I ask a question first?"

Halin was taken aback. His fingertips paused, but he still nodded. "You may. Ask."

"The people in Dabo Town... can they still be saved?"

1

1

Halin fell silent. He did not say a word for four or five seconds, his eyes flickering as if torn between telling the truth or using a lie to soothe Cheng Ye's emotions first.

It was only after their gazes met repeatedly in the air that he finally let out a soft sigh, his tone filled with regret. "I am sorry, but as I mentioned earlier, once a Ruin-level disaster fully erupts, the human survival rate within its coverage area drops to 0.000787 percent. Only one out of 127,100 Ruin-level disasters will yield a single survivor. This is the conclusion reached by the Kindling Alliance after compiling data from tens of thousands of disasters at the Ruin-level and above. There are almost no exceptions. Humanity's only method of dealing with Infection Sources at the Ruin-level or higher is to attempt containment before they fully erupt."

At this point, his voice suddenly dropped even lower, as if he himself could not accept it. "From this moment on, we have completely locked down the entire Dabo Town area. No one will be allowed to enter for the next fifty years. In other words... this place has been permanently erased from the map of Shi Province."

Thud!

It felt like a heavy hammer striking his mind.

Previously, when reading about the classifications of Infection Sources and Infection Tides in books, Cheng Ye could never truly comprehend why humanity categorized them in such a way, or what the words Disaster, Ruin, and Extinction above the Plague-level actually represented.

But now, having personally experienced several disasters, he finally began to understand the sheer weight of those words.

What was a Disaster?

It was a sudden natural or man-made calamity, like a merciless giant hand that caught people off guard and snuffed out vibrant lives.

It could be a bizarre natural phenomenon like the Void Mist, or a lethal Infection Source like the Starfish Epidemic.

It never cared about the aftermath; it only knew how to brutally harvest, leaving behind a landscape of sorrow and mutilation, forcing the living to confront the freezing grip of death in absolute terror.

What was Ruin?

It arrived with far greater finality. Not only did it seek to claim lives, but it also sought to crush all... hope!

It was the moment the catastrophe descended, crushing an entire expanse of land and everything upon it into a lifeless wasteland.

There was no time to struggle, no gap for escape, and even the faintest possibility of barely surviving was utterly severed.

Even if Dabo Town held considerable potential, and even if his future plans could have turned it into one of Happiness City's top-ranking, or perhaps even the number one Satellite City.

Even if he had long sketched out the blueprint for its future in his mind, the moment the word Ruin-level appeared, all plans, all preparations, all visions of the future...

Were completely ruined!

Under a Disaster, people could still find cracks to desperately cling to life.

But when everything was thoroughly annihilated, how could anyone possibly make it out alive?

Phew.

The moment he received a definitive answer, Cheng Ye took several deep breaths, and his entire demeanor completely calmed down instead.

Since Happiness City had already passed a death sentence on the nearly one thousand residents of Dabo Town, including Luo Kuke and Wang Kang.

Then he no longer needed to struggle to explain or argue about anything.

And if the Golden Legend he had seen on his panel earlier corresponded to this Ruin-level Infection Source, then there might still be room to maneuver.

Because the few known Traits did not seem like world-ending destruction, but rather some sort of rule.

'If I follow what Luo Kuke said before—find a way underwater to locate the source of pollution and contain it—would that end this Ruin-level disaster?'

The thought arose, spinning briefly in his mind before Cheng Ye buried it deep within his consciousness.

He did not continue to ask if there was any possibility of saving the people inside.

As an Inspector, he knew better than anyone that before confirming whether someone was infected, every question and answer harbored risks. This was especially true for this type of Mental Pollution that could distort cognition; who knew if asking just one more question might trigger the infection?

Halin's willingness to risk answering him was perhaps not solely out of camaraderie as a fellow Inspector, but also because he saw how deeply Cheng Ye cared for the people in the town.

"After entering Dabo Town at noon, we were first attacked by a flock of Thorn Birds..."

Cheng Ye reeled in his thoughts and began to methodically recount the events of his entire day.

He spoke with exceptional detail, clearly outlining every specific time and encounter.

He was not only cooperating with the examination process but also using his memories to sift through clues, hoping to pinpoint the exact moment the Mental Pollution first showed its traces.

"Around seven-forty in the evening, I was uneasy about the situation by the river, so I went over alone to patrol once more."

"It was during this patrol that I suddenly realized someone seemed to be following me. I could hear very light, yet incredibly eerie footsteps..."

Without anyone noticing when, Halin had completely entered a state of profound focus. His right hand gripping a pen, he rapidly glided it across the paper, recording every piece of critical information.

The various monitoring instruments placed around Cheng Ye had long since been running at full capacity. Dense clusters of data danced across the screens, conducting real-time analysis of his micro-movements, micro-expressions, heart rate, pupillary changes, and other physical metrics.

Throughout the entire process, the data remained perfectly stable without any abnormal fluctuations.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Liu Kun inconspicuously cast a few glances at the instrument screens. He first breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, which was quickly followed by a fleeting sense of pity.

Once the pollution domain of the Immortal Object unfolded.

Any Transcendent who rashly entered would immediately trigger an internal eruption of the pollution tide.

Let alone saving the people inside, if the entrants themselves lacked the ability to resist the pollution, even they would perish within.

According to the sparse intelligence records of the Kindling Alliance, the only way to save lives was to send "someone already marked by the Immortal Object" back inside, thus potentially prying open a sliver of hope.

If the person who had emerged from inside were just an ordinary individual, Happiness City might have taken the risk to let them try again.

But Cheng Ye's performance in all aspects now perfectly aligned with his expectations of a "top-tier new-generation Inspector." How could they send such a talent back into danger?

'We can't let Cheng Ye go back in. Damn it, those wretched past-generation Transcendents! If you're going to die, just die. To leave a mess like this right on the outskirts of Happiness City... who are you trying to disgust!'

Liu Kun could not help but silently curse in his heart, while his eyes inconspicuously darted toward the two gray-robed elders sitting cross-legged in midair. He pondered how he should phrase his request later to ensure Cheng Ye's safety.

To Happiness City, and to the Elders, the importance of an Immortal Object was self-evident.

As long as the pollution on it could be purified, it might very well become a powerful trump card for the shelter city.

However, as far as the Inspection Station was concerned, the probability of entering to contain the Infection Source was just as terrifyingly low as the probability of making it out alive. A new-generation Inspector capable of surviving a Ruin-level Immortal Object's eruption was clearly far more precious!

But could his opinion truly override the decision of the two Elders?

It would be difficult!

Soon, Cheng Ye's voice pulled his thoughts back. "Later, I discovered the squad member infected by the Abyssal Water Cave Crab, and then..."

He paused for a second, his tone perfectly even. "A brief battle took place. Ultimately, I led the rest of the squad, and we killed the Infected Body together."

"After the battle concluded, I returned to the camp to rest for about half an hour, only to hear a commotion outside. When we all rushed out to take a look, we found that the people from the Red Zone had gathered in the center of the block..."

"After dealing with the Infection Source in the Red Zone, we finalized the night patrol schedule: Luo Kuke and Garcia were in charge of the first half of the night, with shift change set for three in the morning, where Wang Kang and I would take over. However, just as three o'clock hit and I was about to call for the shift change, Luo Kuke ran over to inform me that Garcia had vanished with half the Patrol Team..."

From there, Cheng Ye hid nothing. He detailed everything: the Crab-men neatly lined up along the riverbank, the bizarre phenomena when the Mental Pollution erupted, and the specifics of the squad members becoming immobilized.

He could vividly feel the countless gazes falling upon him, and he could faintly sense the scanning of various monitoring devices.

Under the scrutiny of so many eyes and precision instruments, trying to lie his way through would probably be no less difficult than heading back into Dabo Town to contain the Infection Source.

Therefore, he chose to lay everything bare, only omitting the information related to the Transcendent powers.

After finishing, Cheng Ye stood silently in place, waiting for Halin to conclude the report.

"Very good. Your answers were extremely detailed and thorough. As your assessment instructor, I am honored. Your performance has already surpassed all of the Inspection Station's requirements for 'low-tier Inspectors'."

Halin generously praised him before pivoting his pen, his tone growing serious. "Next, I will ask questions regarding the details of your account. You do not need to be tense. All these questions are intended to evaluate the pollution situation inside the town, not to test whether you are infected."

"Understood." Cheng Ye nodded.

In truth, the moment he finished recounting his experience, he had already recognized numerous blind spots he had previously overlooked. Verifying them with Halin now might actually reveal the key to the pollution outbreak.

"First question: Regarding the Abyssal Water Cave Crab infection. You mentioned seeing Garcia leading people to fetch water. During that process, did you observe whether the squad members were wearing Protective Gear?"

"No. The members fetching water were completely unprotected the entire time, and several of them had river water splashed onto their bodies."

Cheng Ye answered immediately.

The guidelines in the Inspector's manual regarding wilderness bodies of water were not so strict as to mandate protection upon contact.

It was only when fully submerging oneself into the water that one was required to first analyze its composition to ensure there was no risk from Infection Sources.

Even the last time he went fishing with Jiang Chuan, it had been inevitable that they came into contact with some river water to varying degrees.

It was perfectly normal that Garcia hadn't ordered his water-fetching members to wear Protective Gear. One could only say he lacked vigilance.

"Second question: When you pointed out that two people were missing from the squad, did you notice the purple patterns you mentioned appearing on any of the remaining members?"

"No." Cheng Ye shook his head, adding, "When the captain used the flashlight to do a headcount, I made sure to observe everyone's expressions and movements. I am certain no one had any similar patterns."

After all, with two people already missing, the rest were all suspects for infection. It was impossible for him not to be meticulous.

"Third question: Describe your battle with the Abyssal Water Cave Crab Infected Body."

The crucial question had arrived.

Cheng Ye's heart sank slightly, though his expression remained perfectly calm. "That Infected Body exposed himself on his own, turning to face me. Before he could fully mutate, I jumped up and delivered a kick that blew his head apart, sending him crashing into the wall. The squad members then reacted and opened fire together, obliterating his fatal weak point."

"A kick that blew the Infected Body's head apart?" Halin repeated, his eyes seeking confirmation. "Are you absolutely certain?"

"I am certain. One kick obliterated it."

"Did anyone come into contact with the Infected Body's blood?"

"During the battle itself, I can confirm no one did. But later, the corpse was dragged to the center of Dabo Town. Whether anyone came into contact with it during that subsequent process, I cannot be sure."

"Understood." Halin recorded the information rapidly, refraining from pressing further on the battle details.

"Fourth question: When the Infected Bodies with the purple patterns appeared, was everyone present as a spectator?"

If the first three questions were mere build-up, this fourth question immediately pierced right to the heart of the pollution.

Cheng Ye's mind suddenly buzzed, as if gently struck by something.

The train of thought he had already been sorting out grew increasingly clear, and in an instant, he realized Halin's intent.

'That's it!'

'If the Mental Pollution requires a carrier to spread, then those two Infected Body corpses with the purple patterns are the most likely mediums.'

'Or put another way, the transmission route for the unknown Disaster-level Infection Source might just be through those purple patterns.'

And at the time, to relieve tension, Luo Kuke had brought everyone in the Red Zone over to spectate.

Later, when counting heads, he had Huang Liang call everyone over. He didn't even leave out the few couples in the Supermarket parking lot, which meant that every single person had been in close proximity to the carriers.

"Confirmed. Everyone came over to observe the Infected Bodies up close. No exceptions."

"Fifth question: How were those two purple-patterned Infected Bodies ultimately disposed of?"

"I don't know. I was only responsible for examining the Infection Source within the bodies. Luo Kuke handled the subsequent disposal."

"Sixth question..."

Halin suddenly paused, raising his eyes. His tone was exceptionally solemn. "This is the final question. I hope you think carefully before you answer."

"Alright!" Cheng Ye nodded, faintly guessing the direction of the inquiry.

"Why do you think you were not affected by the Mental Pollution?"

Swish.

The moment the words fell.

Almost all gazes were drawn to him like magnets, and the surroundings instantly went deathly silent.

Even the researchers operating the instruments snapped their attention tightly to the screens, subconsciously lightening their breathing.

The group of Fourth-Stage Inspectors standing behind Halin, including Ding Yishan and Liu Kun, all cast gazes filled with both curiosity and profound gravity.

Everyone harbored the exact same question in their hearts: when even a Third-Stage Inspector couldn't withstand the pollution, how could a Trainee Inspector who had just completed his assessment escape unscathed?

Only the two Elders, sitting cross-legged in the air, kept their eyes closed. Bathed in a faint halo of light, they seemed entirely disinterested in everything below, focusing solely on the unique spiritual fluctuation before them.

Being scrutinized by this synchronized wall of stares felt remarkably similar to standing on the riverbank, locking eyes with an endless sea of Crab-men.

Cheng Ye paused, unable to stop himself from squeezing out a slight smile as he met their eyes one by one.

Actually, back when he had questioned Luo Kuke, he had already figured out exactly how to answer this question.

Now, he just had to repeat the same answer he had given Luo Kuke.

"That question is something I need you to answer for me."

"For us to answer?" Halin's face showed no surprise; he merely nodded slightly.

He stood up and quickly organized the report in his hands. Then, turning to face the crowd, his voice rang out clear and powerful. "Following the examination and analysis by Fifth-Stage Inspector Halin, it is confirmed that Trainee Inspector Cheng Ye carries absolutely no risk of infection. I am willing to assume full personal responsibility and endorse the results of this analysis."

"Good!" Liu Kun nodded immediately, raising his hand to tap gently forward.

The fiery red cage that had served as an isolation constraint dissipated instantly like blown-out sparks, falling to the ground without leaving the slightest trace.

The tense atmosphere in the area immediately relaxed significantly. It was as if Halin's conclusion alone was enough for everyone to set their minds entirely at ease, completely sweeping away their previous wariness and scrutiny.

"Cheng Ye, this is a special period that demands special treatment. I hope you can maintain your current state."

Halin handed the documents to the staff behind him, his tone laced with obvious approval. "As the Deputy Station Master, I am extremely satisfied with your performance today."

Having said that, he stepped back into the ranks, handing the stage over to Ding Yishan and Liu Kun once more.

The two men exchanged a look, and eventually, Ding Yishan stepped forward in silence, gesturing for the staff to bring over a stool.

With a temporarily erected table between them, the two sat facing each other.

Ding Yishan remained silent for a few seconds before slowly opening his mouth. "Regarding your next arrangements, do you have a preference of your own?"

"I get to choose?"

"Of course."

"I need the intelligence on the inside—the most detailed intelligence related to it that you can provide."

"Done." Ding Yishan nodded without a second thought, but was immediately interrupted by Liu Kun from behind.

"No." Liu Kun quickly stepped forward, pressing his palm firmly onto Ding Yishan's shoulder, his tone resolute. "The success rate is too low. Sending another person in to die is entirely meaningless."

"But didn't you say before that placing people with potential on a pedestal and shielding them from all risks is the true waste of our predecessors' blood, sweat, and tears?" Ding Yishan turned his head. The gazes of the two men clashed in the air, neither willing to yield an inch.

Liu Kun fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "The efforts of the past generations were not meant to send Inspectors into environments where death is all but guaranteed."

"You're wrong!" Ding Yishan's voice suddenly pitched higher. "At the very least, we can now provide him with the best equipment so he doesn't have to fight the Infection Source with bare hands. At the very least, we can gather intelligence in advance so he doesn't have to charge in blindly like we did in the past. This... this is the true meaning of the past generations' efforts!"

Heh.

Liu Kun nearly laughed out of sheer anger.

As their eyes locked, a sudden sense of irony washed over them.

The one who had previously clamored for Inspectors to make sacrifices was now the one trying to stop the risk-taking.

The one who had previously insisted on providing every safeguard to protect Inspectors as much as possible was now the one sending an Inspector off to die.

"Answer me. If the past generation of Inspectors stood here right now, would they march in just to die?" Liu Kun asked, suppressing his emotions.

"Then let me ask you this. Back then, with so many people fighting for the position of Station Master, why am I the one sitting in the chair?"

Ding Yishan did not concede an inch, his voice laced with ferocity. "I was the one who led the team to contain the Extinction-level 'Lion Dragon'! Me, not He Fei! That is why I have the right to stand here and talk to you right now!"

The harsh exchange left Liu Kun's face shifting between pale and livid, yet he found himself completely incapable of uttering a retort.

The core pillars of the Inspection Station needed to be meticulous and cautious, excelling in both strategy and combat.

But the top-level decision-makers of the Inspection Station needed recklessness, they needed impulsiveness, they needed capability, and above all, they needed a boldness and luck far beyond the ordinary... along with traits that seemed utterly irrational.

But did Cheng Ye truly possess the potential to become a top-level decision-maker?

Liu Kun was stunned.

A peak Fifth-Stage Inspector was his evaluation of the future for the Trainee Inspector standing before him, which was already an incredibly high level of recognition.

Because a peak Fifth-Stage Inspector was constantly qualified to ascend to Duty Station Master, and becoming a Station Master or Deputy Station Master was only a matter of time.

But in Ding Yishan's eyes, did he possess potential surpassing even a peak Fifth-Stage Inspector?

Could he be even more outstanding than Cheng Long was back in his day?

He couldn't understand. As he pondered this, he saw Ding Yishan abruptly stand up, his expression instantly turning solemn:

"Inspector Cheng Ye, the Happiness City Inspection Station is now issuing you the latest mission directive."

"You are to enter as a Trainee Inspector and contain the Ruin-level Infection Source affecting Dabo Town."

"For this containment mission, in addition to the necessary intelligence and information support, the Inspection Station will provide you with comprehensive Protective Gear. This includes: one set of individual underwater reconnaissance equipment with Ruin+ level protection, one set of containment equipment capable of Extinction-level containment, one set of A-

Rank Benign Infection Source attachment and removal suit, and one fully-functional high-speed aquatic search and rescue boat..."

The rapid-fire list of equipment poured from Ding Yishan's mouth, all of which were things Cheng Ye had never even heard of.

'So equipment protection levels are set according to disaster levels?'

'And... what in the world is an A-Rank Benign Infection Source suit?'

While Cheng Ye was momentarily dazed, he heard Ding Yishan suddenly shift his tone again. "I must inform you now that this containment mission offers no special rewards. It will merely be calculated as a standard 'Ruin-level' Inspection Station mission. However, due to its severe nature, the containment reward will be bumped up by one level in accordance with regulations, calculated at the 'Extinction-level'."

"You have ten minutes to consider. Will you accept this mission?"

After saying this, Ding Yishan let out a long breath and unexpectedly turned on his heel and walked away.

This was because Liu Kun, standing nearby, wore a face as black as charcoal. It felt like if Ding Yishan didn't leave immediately, the two of them would break out into a brawl on the spot.

As Ding Yishan navigated through the crowd and left, Liu Kun stared at his retreating back, pausing for a moment but ultimately saying nothing more.

Instead, his body seemed to defy gravity. He stamped heavily on the ground and shot straight up into the sky in front of everyone.

'Holy shit, it turns out... Brother Kun can fly?'

Cheng Ye couldn't resist opening his panel, sweeping a glance at the coordination level in the direction Liu Kun had flown off.

Hm.

31.7%

Perhaps the impression he had left previously was quite favorable, as the base coordination level had actually surpassed 30%. Not bad.

But the next second, the other two data points displayed by the Collector made him freeze.

1.2%, 0%?

A massive goose egg of a zero sitting on the panel was more or less jarring.

'Wait, there are people up there?'

Cheng Ye narrowed his eyes but could see absolutely nothing. It was exactly like how he had been completely unable to see the camp squad stationed outside Dabo Town before passing through the barrier.

'Could it be that this barrier isn't the Ruin-level Infection Source affecting Dabo Town, but rather...'

"Elder Zeng, Elder Qian!"

Liu Kun came to a steady halt in midair and bowed slightly, his tone laden with utmost respect.

The two Elders still kept their eyes closed, the faint halos surrounding their bodies perfectly still.

It wasn't until over twenty seconds later that Elder Zeng on the left slowly opened his eyes. His gaze swept over the scene below as he spoke indifferently, "Finished chatting?"

"Uh..." Liu Kun paused, then hurriedly replied, "The situation inside has basically been cleared up. At present, the Immortal Object shouldn't have fully erupted yet; it has merely unfolded its cognitive distortion domain and hasn't triggered a large-scale pollution tide for the time being."

"It's not that it hasn't erupted. It's that this is merely a fragment of a complete Immortal Object." Elder Zeng shook his head, raising his hand to wipe the empty air in front of him.

The surrounding water vapor instantly converged, first condensing into a perfect crystal sphere.

A few seconds later, the mist within the sphere suddenly exploded. It churned and gathered rapidly, eventually forming a common seaside creature that spun gently amid the clouds:

A conch shell.

"This is the form of the fragment I deduced. In a moment, tell the one below..." Elder Zeng paused, seemingly waiting for Liu Kun to provide a name.

Unexpectedly, Elder Qian, who had kept his eyes closed on the right, suddenly opened them and chimed in, "Cheng Ye."

"Tell Cheng Ye that the fragment is inside an underground Rongdong at the bottom of the White Water River. The exact location is unknown. There are several Infection Source signals approaching the Disaster-level in the vicinity, as well as one bordering on the Ruin-level. He must systematically contain these Infection Sources and quell the pollution tide first before attempting to contain the Immortal Object fragment."

'What?'

'Not only is there an Immortal Object fragment, but also multiple Disaster-level Infection Sources? There's even another approaching the Ruin-level?'

A massive shock rippled through Liu Kun's heart. Unable to hold back any longer, he gritted his teeth and spoke up. "Elder Zeng, Cheng Ye is merely a Trainee Inspector. I'm afraid he..."

Before his words could even land, an unimaginable sensation of suffocation suddenly crashed over him.

It felt like an invisible hand was choking his throat, or as if he had abruptly been thrown into a vacuum, making even drawing a single breath an extravagant hope.

Gack!

The Flame King within his body burst out from the Spiritual Body Space almost instantly. But the moment it materialized, it too was frozen in place as if immobilized, unable to flap its wings even once.

"Old Zeng, you're... picking on the young a bit too much here."

Elder Qian coughed lightly. The surrounding air's temperature plummeted instantly, and the constraints binding Liu Kun violently dispersed.

Yet that escaping wisp of freezing aura caused the flames on the Flame King's feathers to extinguish with a 'puff'. The majestic flaming Searing Hawk instantly turned into a bald, red eagle.

Immediately after, Elder Qian flicked his finger. The Flame King seemed to be yanked by an invisible force, zipping right back into the Spiritual Body Space with a 'whoosh'.

'What kind of power is this?'

'What kind of entities are they?'

'What exactly do the Elders control? Why couldn't I put up even a sliver of resistance?'

'Why can they ignore all rules and look at me with the eyes of someone staring at an inanimate object?'

The disparity in power between Transcendents seemed larger than the gap between a human and a dog.

Everything happened so fast. By the time Liu Kun regained his senses, his entire body was trembling like a sieve, and his face shifted wildly from purple to yellow, and then to crimson... It was terrifyingly bizarre.

A subtle 'crack' repeatedly rang out, sounding like something rapidly shattering apart.

Elder Zeng cast a glance and couldn't help but curl his lip. "Such fragile Belief. I really wonder how he entered the Second State? Pure luck?" "Old Zeng, be more tolerant of the younger generation. Your methods are too crude."

Elder Qian chuckled, reaching out and pointing a finger.

An aura of extreme ice instantly enveloped Liu Kun. In the blink of an eye, he was frozen into a massive, human-shaped block of ice, even his presence thoroughly sealed within.

"The recovery fees for this will have to be charged to your Transcendent Faction." Elder Qian smacked his lips. "Tsk, in this state, Little Liu will have to rest in isolation for at least 45 days. I originally wanted him to look after Cheng Ye a bit more."

"Cheng Ye?" Elder Zeng repeated the name once more, then suddenly laughed. "Since when did I not know that you've started paying attention to such little guys?"

"He's no little guy. He..."

Elder Qian looked down, only to find Cheng Ye on the ground staring straight back up. His eyes were filled with unconcealable curiosity and astonishment, seemingly able to see them.

"The aura on this little guy is extremely similar to Liu Kun's, yet distinctly different in its details, and far too faint... Strange. Could it be some kind of protective measure Liu Kun left on him?"

Saying that, Elder Qian furrowed his brows slightly. Glancing at the ice-sculpture-like Liu Kun, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

At the same time.

"Hm?"

Looking at the panel, he realized the coordination level had jumped up a bit more.

It had actually reached 2.3%!

Cheng Ye's heart skipped a beat, but his surprise wasn't due to the rise in coordination. Rather, it was because Liu Kun's coordination level suddenly underwent a drastic change...

Almost instantly, it leaped straight from just over 30% all the way to 100%!

'This... how is this possible?'