After clearing out a wave of Fierce Ghost, Number 6 quickly lost interest in them. They were all mass-produced creations with relatively simple and easily decipherable patterns of killing.
The real terror lurks beneath Ruihe City's underground; who knows what the city will ultimately become?
Thinking this, Number 6 shook his head. Even if this place was smashed to pieces, what did it have to do with him?
He turned around and teleported to a building in the city center. There weren't many living people left in the city, so he didn't need to bother concealing his whereabouts.
However, Number 6 did not notice that as soon as he left, a dark and sinister Ghost Hand emerged from the ground behind him. A blood-red eyeball grew from the palm of the Ghost Hand, silently staring at him as he walked away.
Number 6 arrived at a room on a high floor of the building, casually resting his arm on the window and gazing into the distance, looking like an artistic young man striking a pose.
This is a little habit he has when he's alone; it allows him to clear his mind and make his thoughts clearer.
At this moment, Executor No. 5 [Heaven’s Retribution] was also in the city, but Agent No. 6 was still vaguely uneasy. He felt that the enemy he was about to face was no different from the World-Ending Level Fierce Ghosts he had faced before, or even more powerful.
If that "Beauty Goddess" didn't possess some real skill, how dare she call herself a god?
There's another guy stirring up trouble in the shadows. Even if a cataclysmic Disaster suddenly breaks out now, Number 6 wouldn't be surprised at all.
One [Heaven’s Retribution] is probably not enough to deal with this situation. Perhaps after a while, four other high-ranking officials will also arrive, at which point this place will surely be transformed into a hellish inferno.
Despite the magnitude of the event, Number 6 had no desire to get involved; his primary concern was ensuring his own safety.
Thinking this, suddenly, Number 6 felt a chill run down his spine, and his hair stood on end.
Before he could react, a blackish-purple bolt of lightning, as thin as a hair, struck him directly on the head.
Number 6 asked in surprise and disbelief, "Teacher Heaven’s Retribution, why...?"
Before he could finish speaking, countless winding black-purple lightning bolts condensed in mid-air to form a human face, which was the appearance of [Heaven’s Retribution].
[Heaven’s Retribution]'s eyes flashed with chilling killing intent as he glared at Number 6, immediately launching into a tirade. "Idiot! You were being watched, and you didn't even notice!"
After he finished speaking, several more bolts of lightning struck.
Number 6 stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move. Although the lightning had left him covered in dust and dirt, his mind was gradually clearing.
[Heaven’s Retribution] disappeared immediately after striking someone down, without saying a single unnecessary word. If number 6 falls into the same trap again, it only proves that such an idiot deserves to die. It would be better for him to die a miserable death once and learn his lesson.
Number 6 collapsed to the ground, panting heavily to clear his chaotic thoughts.
He definitely has a problem, a problem he's not even aware of himself.
His thinking was disturbed by external forces, but he always subconsciously Neglect it, and even wandered around Ruihe City, losing all sense of urgency.
Now that I'm more aware, and thinking carefully, when exactly did I get infected?
Having witnessed the true form of the Beauty Goddess, and suffering severe injuries, why did I run to Headquarters?
Perhaps it was during that time that I was injured, my mind was confused, and someone took advantage of my vulnerability.
"That was close~" Number 6 muttered to himself. Luckily, he was cautious enough to ask for help as soon as he encountered the slightest setback, and he had no intention of taking any risks himself.
After reviewing the details of how he fell for the dirty trick, Number 6 quickly composed himself and even felt a secret thrill.
He hadn't experienced anything so thrilling in a long time, especially when Teacher [Heaven’s Retribution] unleashed his killing intent upon him, which made his heart race.
Since joining the Time Management Bureau, even when facing World-Ending Level Fierce Ghost, the Executor generally don't feel much tension.
Because of the ability to Rollback, people have lost their reverence for life and become numb to death.
This time is different. The opponent is intelligent and will strip the Time-Type Fierce Ghost from the Executor, which in a sense is equivalent to wiping out these Executor.
Barely suppressing the strange excitement surging within him, Number 6 stood up, his eyes gleaming with a dark light, and carefully examined his entire body.
Upon investigation, Number 6 discovered that a foreign, Supernatural power was lurking within his body, residing in his brain and heart.
These two external Supernatural forces had completely different effects. They hid themselves in different ways, making them extremely well-concealed. If Number 6 hadn't carefully and diligently examined them, they would have been completely undetectable.
Number 6 originally intended to use his own eyes to analyze the information of these two Supernatural forces, but then he thought of the terrifying contamination of the Beauty Goddess, so he abandoned this plan and directly cleared the foreign Supernatural forces from his body.
After resolving the hidden dangers within his body, Number 6 finally breathed a sigh of relief and regained his caution.
However, this didn't stop him from slacking off and not putting in any effort. Anyway, if the sky fell, Teacher No. 5 [Heaven’s Retribution] would take care of it.
Although there is only one position between No. 5 and No. 6, their strength is worlds apart. The top five high-level Executor are the true core of the Time Management Chrysanthemum. No. 6 has always wanted to integrate into them, but the gap has been widening with each Rollback until even their backs are no longer visible.
The entire Ruihe City was eerily quiet, like the calm before a storm.
On the 6th, I didn't know what [Heaven’s Retribution] was busy with, and I didn't do anything else. I just stayed in my room and rested.
The next day at dawn, just as the sun rose above the horizon, a powerful aura flashed by.
Number 6 is very familiar with this; this is [Holy Light], the third Executor of the Time Management Bureau.
He looked out the window and saw a beam of light fall nearby. The light scattered into particles, then coalesced again into the form of a holy woman.
She had broad eyebrows, a high nose, and deep-set eyes. Her whole body radiated a soft glow, and she was dressed entirely in white, except for her pupils, which shone like sapphires.
The moment Number 6 saw her, he felt purified; all his negative thoughts and emotions vanished, and he felt as if he were in a state of eternal sagehood.
But then, an unexpected event occurred.
A pitch-black hand emerged from the ground and went straight for [Holy Light]'s neck.
[Holy Light] remained unfazed, and as his eyes flickered, a beam of white light shot out, piercing through the pitch-black palm.
A hand landed on the ground, and a mouth emerged from its palm, speaking in a cold, authoritative voice. "These disgusting lights are truly repulsive..."
[Holy Light] stared coldly at the dark palm, his voice resonating in everyone's minds despite his mouth not moving. "You are the disgusting filth."
Their conversation left both Number 6 and [Heaven’s Retribution] somewhat bewildered.
Ghost Hand is Hu Jiu's ability, and so is the terrifying entity lurking beneath Ruihe City. His mind has long been twisted into pure black by all sorts of malice, and he utterly detests purifying abilities like Holy Light.
Once even the slightest bit of peace arises in one's heart, and one no longer desires to do evil, what will become of them?
Hu Jiu's anchor is his wickedness and bringing misfortune and disaster to others. He both conforms to the instincts of Fierce Ghost and maintains his wisdom and rationality.
Forget about whitewashing or anything like that; you'd better stay far away from me.
"Snap!"
A bolt of lightning struck the dark Ghost Hand instantly retracted into the ground.
It was [Heaven’s Retribution] that made its move, but Hu Jiu chose to avoid battle.
[Heaven’s Retribution] said with a grim expression, "Underground in this city are various kinds of mirrored, Phantom, and dream-like Ghost Domain, within Ghost Domain are nested other types of Ghost Domain, including wandering Fierce Ghost and all sorts of chaotic rules and taboos."
"I tried to break through several times, but those Ghost Domain would regenerate within a second after I violently shattered them. The entire underground was a giant maze, and I couldn't find a way out at all."
"What's worse, I can't tell whether the enemy is hiding in the maze or not even in the city, and is simply trapping us."
[Holy Light] then said, "The situation is more complicated than we imagined. The city is under a one-way blockade; people outside can get in, but people inside can't get out."
"Is it really impossible to get out?" Heaven’s Retribution asked rhetorically.
[Holy Light] said meaningfully, "What good will it do to get out?"
The Administration's enemies are hiding too well this time. As long as they don't show themselves, the Administration won't be able to find their true identities.
A chilling wind blew, making the entire space feel oppressive and gloomy.
This is a palace, and also a stable Ghost Domain. The huge dark red palace gate is half-open, and the reliefs on the gate have long been eroded and blurred, leaving only some distorted traces.
The palace was filled with the stench of decay, mixed with an indescribable foul smell. The towering stone pillars swayed precariously, and the murals on the walls had long since receded, leaving only mottled outlines. Some eerie patterns could be vaguely seen—distorted human figures, rotting corpses, countless rolling heads, and empty, numb eyes, as if watching over everyone who had stumbled upon this place.
This is the core fortress of the Time Management Bureau, where time is eternally frozen in darkness.
Executor No. 2 and No. 4 followed behind an old man with great respect and humility.
The old man was dressed strangely, like in a ritual robe, and his eyes were cold and expressionless, yet he made Number 2 and Number 4 feel extremely pressured.
He is Number 1, the highest leader of the Time Management Bureau, and a rather mysterious figure.
Even number 2 doesn't know much about number 1, because the current number 2 is a substitute.
Yes, that's right. Apart from number 1, four out of the top five high-level Executor have undergone personnel changes.
The former Number 2 died, and the successor took his place, so they don't know much about the history of the Time Management Bureau. All the secrets are in the hands of Number 1.
Number 1's name is [Heavenly Dao].
Just then, Number 2 said, "So far, Beauty Goddess has been very cautious in her activities. It seems that she has already noticed the existence of the Administration and is wary of us."
"[Holy Light] and [Heaven’s Retribution] are trapped, and that one hasn't been making any moves lately. I'm a little worried..."
Upon hearing this, Heavenly Dao slowly said, "It's alright. We possess the ability to rewind time throughout the world. Victory will surely be ours."
Number 2 frowned. "But the side effects of Rollback... the Beauty Goddess and that one whose name can't be mentioned could very well be the price, accelerating the arrival of destruction..."
Heavenly Dao glanced at Number 2 lightly, and Number 2 broke out in a cold sweat.
Number 4, who had remained silent the entire time, lowered his eyes, not daring to reveal his emotions at all.
At noon, the bright sunlight shone on the earth, but it had no warmth whatsoever.
Suddenly, a shower of peach blossoms began to fall over the deathly silent Ruihe City, creating a breathtakingly beautiful spectacle.
Immediately afterwards, a pink light wave spread rapidly outward from the city center, soon reaching several surrounding cities.
All the living people in these cities, including the Ghost Tamers, had their five senses disturbed, and for a moment it seemed as if the world was upside down.
What follows is a distortion of cognition and a manipulation of thinking.
In the sky, a giant Upside-Down-Growing Peach Tree slowly appeared, blotting out the sun, and the Beauty Goddess officially announced her arrival.
In Ruihe City, Number 6 was so frightened that he immediately looked down at the floor, not daring to look at the upside-down tree.
Only then did he realize with horror that the sky had long been blocked by this upside-down tree, and the sun, moon, and stars were no longer visible.
But at this very moment in Ruihe City, the pale sun still hangs high in the sky, standing shoulder to shoulder with the upside-down tree.
Clearly, this current sun is an illusion.
What even Number Six could see, [Holy Light] and [Heaven’s Retribution] naturally realized as well: ever since they entered Ruihe City, the sun had been replaced.
In fact, neither of them was in very good condition at the moment.
During their stay in Ruihe City, a Supernatural force was constantly eroding and cursing them in a subtle and silent way.
They were constantly on guard, which exhausted their energy.
--Actually, it doesn't consume much energy, but this thing is like a mosquito that you can't swat, constantly buzzing in your ear, which is very annoying and irritating.
I don't know if the Holy Light can purify my bad temper, but I was already seething with Heaven’s Retribution. Now that I saw the true form of the Beauty Goddess appear, I impulsively attacked.
In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared. In mythology, lightning symbolizes the ultimate yang and the suppression of all evil spirits. But now it was shrouded in darkness and terror, lacking the power of thunder, only eeriness and dread.
[Holy Light] didn't help, but instead looked down at the ground. The Beauty Goddess had already intervened, but what was that other person doing?
Aside from the initial appearance of a Ghost Hand that trapped them here, that being remained silent throughout, which was truly unusual.
The Holy Light cannot ignore such an anomaly; could there be some other conspiracy?
The next second, the thunder in the sky suddenly stopped, and [Heaven’s Retribution] felt another powerful sense of oppression. Looking down, he saw a faint, illusory mist, like a mosaic, rising from the ground and quickly covering the entire city.