Several elderly men were talking inside the building, while Yu Qingnian and Faluo stood silently to one side.
With a somewhat grave expression, Cang Lao said, "The Canglan Tournament is starting this soon this year? Isn't it too early?"
Yu Qingnian spoke up. "No, it's not too early. It wasn't my decision. Elder Gu gave the order."
"That old fellow Gu Xingyun wants to get involved too?" Cang Lao frowned, seemingly a little surprised, but quickly regained his composure.
Yu Qingnian remained silent.
At that moment, an elderly man beside them spoke. "Forget it. Let it start early, then. The Canglan Tournament is just a way to pick better prospects for that nauseating Academy Tournament."
"In that case, let's change the rules this year. Since Gu Xingyun wants to see Canglan's stance, we'll show him."
"This time, we'll bring Imperial Capital Academy down from its pedestal in the Academy Tournament."
He spoke lightly, but his words carried a strong edge of hostility. Everyone present could even feel the fighting spirit building in the air.
Even Faluo was a little surprised. A great deal had happened in Canglan this year, and almost all its once-restrictive rules had been broken: the Elimination System, the rankings, and now even the annual Canglan Tournament had been moved forward.
Just thinking about it, he could already feel the enormous whirlpool expanding. Canglan Academy and Imperial Capital Academy were now locked in a fight to the bitter end.
Cang Lao sighed. "Sigh... forget it..."
Magic City.
Dark clouds filled the sky, and thunder rumbled overhead. In the city's dark corners, many people wearing black cloaks that exposed only their faces gazed up at the sky, their eyes full of madness.
"A secret order has come from the Ninth Seat. All God-Binding Cult servants in Magic City are to mobilize and place Pandora's Box at the designated location."
"This time, we fight for My Lord's resurrection and for our compatriots who died in the Black Mist!"
"May the stars gather! With our flesh and blood, we shall open that forbidden door!!"
In an instant, countless figures in black robes raced through the dark city like shadows, all heading toward the very same place.
The Special Affairs Bureau immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Beep, beep, beep~
Phones began ringing throughout the Magic City Special Affairs Bureau headquarters. They were calls for help from citizens.
"Come save us, quick!! Sequence Users are running wild, killing people all over the city!!"
"Aah!!"
"Quick... quick..."
Click~
After hanging up, the person wearing a bright red mask glared fiercely and cursed, "Damn it, the Evil Cult! How dare they be so brazen!!"
Another phone rang nearby. Apparently, this was happening in more than one place.
The Special Affairs Bureau reacted at once, sounding the city's level-two precautionary alarm. It was like an earthquake drill, except this alarm was specifically for dealing with the Evil Cult. As soon as it sounded, everyone, ordinary people and Sequence Users alike, had to stay at home, or they would be arrested as members of the Evil Cult.
On the streets, many people had heard the piercing alarm. Some were puzzled, and quite a few thought it was a drill and went on with what they were doing.
But they soon realized something was wrong. On the low rooftops—no, even on the roads—many, many people in black cloaks had appeared.
One citizen thought it was a drill and even took out his phone to make a post for his Moments. But he soon found his vision falling. His eyes gradually filled with terror, then went still and vacant.
Clatter~
Something hit the ground. Then a distinctly effeminate voice rang out. "Blood really is wonderful!"
A long-haired man stood there, a boning knife in his hand and a headless corpse still spouting blood before him. His face was bashful.
"Blood Charm, once you're done killing, hurry over here. We need to get there quickly, or we'll be in trouble if the Special Affairs Bureau reacts!!"
Blood Charm was the effeminate man. His face was flushed as he carefully touched the headless corpse with one finger. He said softly, "Poison Ghost, just let me dissect one, just one. I'll catch up in a bit!"
The man called Poison Ghost said coldly, "Blood Charm, do you know this is a task assigned by the Ninth Seat? If we mess it up again, our souls will all be ripped out and tortured for eternity!!"
"Is that price more important than an ordinary person's corpse to you?"
Blood Charm's expression changed at once, and he pulled the boning knife from the corpse.
"Let's go."
The sky over Canglan Academy was gloomy as well.
Li Chen sat in his room, gazing out the window at the sky filled with dark clouds. For some reason, his heart was restless.
The restlessness seemed to come not from his body, but from that bizarre space.
In an instant, his consciousness sank into darkness.
A faint white light flickered.
Li Chen opened his eyes. Everything was as it had been, unchanged, but his gaze immediately fixed on the pitch-black door.
Countless wisps of black fog seemed to be trying to penetrate the blood-red door and the talismans used in the seal.
But the red halo remained still.
"What on earth is happening?" Li Chen frowned deeply.
What had provoked the pitch-black door? Something different was happening to it today, and the Black Mist gave him a sense of danger.
After all, this power now seemed to be inside his body. Li Chen didn't know whether he would... die... if the Black Mist erupted completely.
It was all a mystery. He didn't know how this bizarre space existed inside his body.
But now this power was stirring. What on earth had happened?
Suddenly, his consciousness was pulled back to reality.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Su Zhe ran in, drenched in sweat. A little puzzled, Li Chen said, "There's water over there. Have a drink first, then tell me."
But Su Zhe didn't seem to hear him. He simply pulled a phone with its screen still lit from his pocket.
At a glance, Li Chen saw the news on the home page.
[Attention, citizens: all flights, high-speed trains... and other transportation to Magic City have been suspended.]
[All...]
"Magic City... what on earth happened...?" Li Chen's expression grew somewhat grave as he looked out the window.
Su Zhe seemed to have caught his breath. "Something has happened in Magic City..."