Beyond the Shura Field

The time is 11:00 AM.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, Zhuge Yun's figure vanished from their sight before the elevator doors even opened, just as silently as he had arrived.

Perhaps because it was noon, the shopping mall, which had been rather deserted in the morning, was now full of people.

After stepping out of the elevator, Bai Zhi turned his head and glanced at the elevator behind him.

This morning's trip was quite fruitful.

Things that were once like the Moon in the Water or a flower in a mirror can now be seen clearly.

Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land, Cave Heaven Blessed Land.

Beneath this apparent prosperity lies countless undercurrents.

The reason why the world can still appear peaceful on the surface is largely because no truly global supernatural Anomaly have yet occurred. If such terrifying Anomaly were to happen, it would be impossible for any country to conceal them.

... Preparing for large-scale shelters in advance? I mean, why have I been seeing so much news about Infrastructure Maniac lately...?

Thinking of this, Bai Zhi shook his head slightly.

He is no Savior, and there is nothing he can do in the face of the global trend.

Human Strength is ultimately limited; he needs to hurry up and build his own team... starting from the Shadow World.

"... I'm sorry, my father wasn't like this before."

After a moment of silence, the Dead Zero suddenly spoke softly.

"Hmm? I told you, I don't care about such trivial matters."

Bai Zhi glanced back at the Young Girl behind him and smiled slightly.

"To some extent, your father is at least a good father who would protect his daughter. After all, no parent wants to see their daughter raised by someone from an Orphanage..."

"... That's not how it is."

Interrupting his words, the Dead Zero looked up at him.

"My father wasn't this neurotic before, nor was he so overprotective of me. He only gradually became like this later."

"Back then... you meant... pollution?"

Suddenly remembering something, Bai Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Your father has been guarding Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land for a long time, and judging from his condition, it seems he has entered that Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land multiple times... Has your father been affected by that place?"

"... Um."

The Dead Zero low voice.

"Staying outside is fine, but once you go deeper in, you will be contaminated by Spiritual Energy. And in many cases, Father has reasons that force him to go deep in, and the effects he suffers from are becoming increasingly severe."

"No wonder, I meant there was something wrong with him."

With his arms crossed, Bai Zhi looked thoughtful.

"After all, they want to fight me right off the bat..."

"The Guild Master has been trying to solve this problem for a long time, but with little success... I really didn't expect him to come here suddenly today."

The Dead Zero, looked slightly somber.

"Logically speaking, he..."

"It's already noon, would you like me to treat you to lunch?"

Bai Zhi took out his phone and glanced at the time, then looked up at the other person.

What do you like to eat? Or do you know any good restaurants around here?

"... Have a meal?"

The Dead Zero, was slightly taken aback, finding it somewhat difficult to accept someone's erratic thinking.

"That's right, it's almost 11:30 now. Aren't you hungry?"

Standing up straight, Bai Zhi stretched and yawned.

"You can eat whatever you want, it's on me."

However, Bai Zhi soon felt deep regret for what he had said.

--Because the Dead Zero, took him directly to KFC and ordered several children's deluxe meals.

So Qingyi only said it once, do you really need to remember it so clearly...?

At 12:30 pm, Bai Zhi and the Dead Zero took a taxi back to the Seaview Villa.

As for why the Dead Zero also followed... it's because Bai Zhi had to compensate the other party for their phone.

The situation at the villa was the same as always. Qingyi and Anna sat properly on the sofa, watching the Ultraman Tiga movie on the TV screen with tense expressions, while Xia Wen blended in perfectly with the two little girls and became one of them.

On the Coffee Table in front of the three of them were leftover takeout boxes and snacks that had been opened and spread all over the Coffee Table.

"You won't go back on what we agreed on, will you?"

A White-haired loli stared at him, her eyes unblinking.

"Certainly."

Bai Zhi looked serious.

"Speak your mind and keep your word—that's my way of the ninja."

"When?"

"Now."

"Then wait for us for ten minutes, we'll go back and change now!!"

Upon hearing this, Qingyi stopped watching TV and immediately grabbed Anna, who was still in shock, and ran upstairs.

"Well..."

After blinking and thinking for a moment, Xia Wen decisively took the bag of unfinished potato chips from in front of the two little girls, and then happily ate the chips while continuing to watch TV.

Bai Zhi: "..."

It seems like if the Campus Belle isn't around, no one can keep this guy in check...

Looking at Xia Wen in front of him, who was wearing a loose T-shirt and loose hot pants, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin without any regard for her appearance, Bai Zhi's expression couldn't help but become slightly subtle.

"Tian Huo? She received Mandatory Quest from the system."

Somewhat reluctantly, Xia Wen looked away from the television in front of him, placed his hands on the back of the Sofa, and began to answer.

"After all, the registration period has passed, so she can't join this Large-scale Campaign Quest... Is there something you need from her?"

"It was just a casual question."

Bai Zhi walked to the refrigerator, reached inside, and pulled out a can of Herbal Tea. He shrugged slightly.

"The weather's nice today. I'm planning to take Qingyi and the others out shopping later. Do you want to come?"

"Uh? Shopping is such a hassle, I'll just stay home and wait for you guys to come back."

With half his body dangling from the back of the Sofa, Xia Wen looked utterly exhausted and unable to move.

"Have fun, I'm not going with you... Uh, Senior He coming too?"

Xia Wen's gaze suddenly fell on the Dead Zero beside him, and he asked a question.

"Um."

The Dead Zero put down the recipe he was looking at and nodded.

"Ahem... I'd like to ask, how were the expenses calculated for this shopping trip?"

His entire attitude suddenly took a 180-degree turn. He sat up straight on the Sofa, coughed a few times with his fists to his mouth, and Xia Wen seriously.

"I'll pay for everything. Didn't you pay me hundreds of thousands in rent before?"

With a pursed lip, Bai Zhi took out his phone and waved it.

"Besides, do you have the money? In short, are you going or not?"

"Go! We absolutely have to go!!"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Xia Wen resolutely stood up from the Sofa.

"Xiao Yi and the others will probably be back tonight, so we can go have all-you-can-eat hot pot this afternoon. I know a place where the hot pot is amazing!! I'll take you there later!!"

"Then go change your clothes. We'll be assembled in five minutes."

Rolling his eyes, Bai Zhi opened the can of Herbal Tea in his hand, took a sip, and turned to walk upstairs.

"Hurry up, make the most of the time."

"Um... I feel like this outfit of mine..."

"Go change your clothes."

"Oh..."