Spirit Shine Crystal

Lin Yi watched the last Corrosive Abyss Wolf disappear around the corner before he finally relaxed a little.

Don't let the fact that this thing is just a low-level piece of Abyss Beast cannon fodder fool you; it is actually incredibly cunning.

As for the wolf howl that rang out downstairs, Lin Yi knew exactly what it was trying to do.

He had been marked by that creature, and it was currently crouching downstairs, calling for reinforcements.

Corrosive Abyss Wolves generally operate in groups of three; if one is allowed to escape, it will most likely summon three more groups.

In other words, the next wave should consist of 10 Corrosive Abyss Wolves.

However, the Abyss Beast Nest is currently in its "first phase," where the nest will clear out most visible living organisms within its territory before concentrating its power to deal with those who are hiding or are harder to crack.

Therefore, there is at least a half-day safety window. For the time being, the Corrosive Abyss Wolf downstairs is just a scout, so there is no need to worry too much.

In fact, this is actually a good thing.

Because of that howl, the other Corrosive Abyss Wolves know there is a threat here, so they won't even try to enter.

Seeing the terrifying monster retreat, Zhou Mengmeng, who had been hiding to the side for fear of being a burden, rushed over with a sobbing voice, her small hands trembling as she tried to touch the horrific claw marks.

"Brother! You're hurt!"

"I'm fine, Xiao Meng."

Lin Yi's voice was hoarse as he forced a reassuring smile. "The armor blocked it, it didn't even break the skin. Look, it just scratched a few marks."

He deliberately moved his left arm to show that his movement was unimpeded.

Afterward, he turned his gaze toward the Spirit Shine Crystal, feigning the curiosity of a Young Man, and muttered in a low voice, "Huh? What is this thing?" before preparing to bend down and pick it up.

"Don't touch it yet!"

A slightly hoarse female voice rang out from the side.

Lin Yi paused and turned his head to look.

It was the Female Office Worker.

Her hair was disheveled and her makeup was ruined. The fear in her eyes remained, but the hysteria from before was gone, replaced instead by a clarity born from surviving a brush with death.

It seemed that walking the edge of life and death had actually made her more clear-headed.

"That thing... it was left behind by the monster, right?"

She watched Lin Yi's movements and couldn't help but warn him, "Who knows if things left behind by that kind of corrosive monster are poisonous? It's better not to touch it directly."

"You have a point."

Lin Yi nodded; he had always been willing to accept the kindness of others.

"The monster turned into ash directly, which is pretty eerie... but... I still want to see what it is... what if... there's a clue?"

He paused, his gaze falling on a scarf stained with dust around the Female Office Worker's neck.

"Um... could I borrow your scarf? It should be fine if I pick it up through the fabric."

The Female Office Worker froze for a moment, then subconsciously untied the pale purple scarf and handed it over.

"Here... be careful."

"Thank you."

Lin Yi took the scarf and carefully wrapped up the two low-level Spirit Shine Crystals.

"Let's go, hurry back to the Fujin Hall! That howl from earlier didn't sound like a good omen."

Having obtained what he wanted, Lin Yi didn't delay any further. He called out, pulled Xiao Meng along, and signaled for the waiters and the Female Office Worker to follow.

The five of them quickly left the death zone near the restroom and retreated along a cluttered corridor toward the Fujin Hall.

Passing by a Banquet Hall with a sign that read "Fuxiu Hall," Lin Yi keenly caught the sound of dull "thumping" and the dragging of heavy objects against the floor from inside; someone was desperately reinforcing the door.

Lin Yi didn't stop.

He couldn't worry about them right now. The Corrosive Abyss Wolves wouldn't attack again in the short term, and his primary task was to bring the four people behind him back to the relatively safe Fujin Hall.

Soon, the Fujin Hall appeared before them.

The front door was tightly shut, and there were sounds of heavy objects being moved behind it as well; clearly, someone was using furniture to barricade the entrance.

Lin Yi circled to the side door, tapped it a few times, and whispered, "Uncle, open up! It's me, I've brought Xiao Meng back!"

The door remained silent for a few seconds, then a flurry of hurried movement of tables and chairs followed.

After a heavy grating sound, the side door was pushed open just enough for one person to pass through, and the tense face of Zhou Jianjun appeared behind it.

"Quick, get in! There are many monsters on the street outside!" Zhou Jianjun whispered urgently.

Lin Yi immediately pushed Zhou Mengmeng inside, followed by the two waiters and the Female Office Worker. He slipped in last and quickly shut the door behind him.

Seeing that everyone was inside, Zhou Jianjun and his uncle Lin Ruiheng immediately joined forces to push the heavy tables and chairs back against the door.

"Block it, block it tight!"

Zhou Jianjun panted heavily, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Returning to the relatively safe fortress, Lin Yi had just wanted to catch his breath when he immediately sensed something was off.

Something was wrong.

The atmosphere in the Banquet Hall was wrong.

The air was as stagnant as a solid, permeated by a heavy, suffocating silence.

Most people were slumped on the floor, staring blankly ahead or fixated on their phone screens, while suppressed, intermittent sobbing drifted from the corners.

"Xiao Yi!"

His mother, Zhou Jinghua, broke the silence with a tearful cry.

She and his father, Lin Ruiming, rushed over from the crowd. Zhou Jinghua's face was deathly pale; as her eyes landed on the gruesome claw marks and residual filth on Lin Yi's armor, she swayed, nearly unable to stand.

Lin Ruiming caught his wife, his gaze locked tightly onto Lin Yi, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion: "Xiao Yi! Where are you hurt... is it serious?"

"Dad! Mom! I'm fine."

Lin Yi quickly spoke to reassure them, keeping his tone as light as possible. "Really! It's just superficial wounds. It looks scary, but this armor is sturdy! Look, my arms and legs are perfectly fine!"

He deliberately moved his limbs to prove he was unharmed.

At this moment, his Uncle and Aunt pushed their way over.

His Aunt was already clutching her daughter, Zhou Mengmeng, tightly, checking her over while sobbing uncontrollably.

His Uncle, however, lunged toward Lin Yi, his bloodshot eyes filled with lingering fear and gratitude.

He patted Lin Yi hard, his voice thick with emotion. "Lin Yi! Good lad! Uncle... Uncle thanks you! Thank you for bringing Mengmeng back!"

His hands were also trembling slightly, clearly overwhelmed.

"Uncle, it's only right. Mengmeng is my sister."

Lin Yi shook his head, his heart warming as he swept his gaze over the worried faces of his Uncle, Aunt, and parents.

However, he noticed that while Zhou Jianjun was excited and grateful, there seemed to be a hint of indescribable anxiety hidden deep in his eyes.

"Brother is amazing!"

Cuddled in her mother's arms, Zhou Mengmeng tilted her little face up, speaking with the excitement of someone who had survived a disaster and a touch of adoration.

"Brother killed two big monsters, green-skinned wolves! He used that stick, bang-bang, two hits! And then... then another one was scared off by Brother!"

Hearing Zhou Mengmeng's words, Zhou Jianjun, who had been full of concern and gratitude, changed color slightly. His gaze subconsciously flicked toward the barricaded main entrance, and his brows furrowed tightly.

Lin Yi took in his Uncle's subtle change in expression, his thoughts shifting.

Uncle is a veteran of many years, after all; his intuition for danger really is different from the average person...

He was just about to say something when a trembling voice cut in.

"Brother Yi... Brother Yi..."

Lin Yi knew it was Chen Yu the moment he heard the voice.

He turned around to see Chen Yu clutching his phone tightly, his eyes filled with terror.

"You... look... the end of the world... is it really the end of the world..."

Chen Yu seemed desperate to share the final straw that had broken the camel's back, or perhaps he had been completely crushed by the information.

Seeing his reaction, Lin Yi understood immediately.

It seemed the source of the despair permeating the Banquet Hall lay right here.

In all likelihood, the internet hadn't cut out yet, and everyone had seen a great deal of information from the outside world.

However, he didn't show anything, instead asking with a look of confusion and unease:

"A Yu? What's wrong? I haven't even had the chance to thank you for the armor you gave me. Why is everyone... like this?"

Chen Yu didn't speak, only trembling as he held the phone screen up in front of Lin Yi.