God's Whip

The facilities in the Black Prison are quite complete, with water, electricity, food, and heating, all available.

Considering the effects of some curses, even the lounge area is a single room for each person.

If you don't consider the Forbidden Items that might act up at any moment, or the fact that you can't see the sun.

Life here is actually pretty good. Right?

At least, Li Yèlái quickly adapted to this living environment.

He would wake up on time to take shifts with Cheese and others, checking on various Forbidden Items. Some were suppressed, while others showing signs of losing control were pacified.

For example, the foul-mouthed scarf. For example, the incense burner that worshipped the door gods.

For example, tasting tea that might restore stamina, or might cause diarrhea.

However, after falling ill the first time, Li Yèlái stopped trying that teapot.

During his breaks, he would listen to the veteran handlers and Night Watchmen brag and chat.

He heard quite a few novel things.

Especially tales from beyond the high walls.

In fact, Li Yèlái's parents were from the wilderness outside the high walls, and his mother was apparently a citizen of some distant Giant City.

But when Li Yèlái was young, they settled in the border city.

Therefore, Li Yèlái wasn't very clear about the situation in the wilderness, only knowing that outside the high walls was a place of chaos and danger.

In reality, it was indeed so.

"In the wilderness, human lives seem to be worthless," said a Night Watchman codenamed 'White Poplar'.

The wilderness was filled with numerous abandoned cities. After the disaster erupted, the population was swallowed by the disaster fog.

Only these deserted cities represented the remnants of civilization that once existed here.

The large number of abandoned cities gave rise to the profession of scavengers. They ventured into the wilderness and into these abandoned cities, searching for items or knowledge that could make them rich.

This was also the most common group in the wilderness.

Furthermore, scavengers who couldn't enter the Giant Cities passively gave rise to settlements and villages in various corners of the wilderness.

Next were the merchant caravans traveling between the Giant Cities.

They had considerable firepower for protection, and some large caravans even hired Spirit Ability Users.

Then came the wilderness bandits, who would frequently raid villages and settlements in the wilderness, and might also attack merchant caravans.

Of course, these four types of groups would switch between each other.

One moment they were scavengers, the next they could become wilderness bandits.

The next day, a bandit might be hired as a mercenary by a small merchant caravan.

It was precisely because of this chaos that, in the eyes of ordinary people, the area outside the high walls was considered a dangerous place.

Even Spirit Ability Users had been ambushed and killed, turned into human meat buns.

Of course, for Spirit Ability Users, these were not the only dangers.

Restricted zones and the strange creatures wandering the wilderness were also deadly existences.

"If you are in the wilderness and don't encounter colleagues from the official organization, trust no one. There are cases where powerful Spirit Ability Users who have killed strange creatures have met their end in a ditch in certain settlements," White Poplar, a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties, reminded the handlers around him again. "In the wilderness, no matter who you face, always be cautious. Some strange creatures can read memories and imitate the appearance of loved ones, making them impossible to guard against."

"Night General, if you ever have to operate outside the Giant City in the future, remember this! We must not meet the same fate of falling into a ditch."

Li Yèlái nodded repeatedly. These were all lessons learned from experience, and he naturally wouldn't waste this goodwill.

As newcomers to the team, the other teammates were very considerate of Li Yèlái.

Especially the Night Watchman White Poplar, who seemed eager to become sworn brothers with Li Yèlái. He was stopped by the other teammates' teasing laughter.

"Old man White Poplar, look at your age. You still want to become sworn brothers with young Night General?"

"Exactly!"

"Get lost!" White Poplar cursed in a low voice, "What are you guys making a fuss about?"

As an old member of the team, he was well aware of Captain Yang Chen's intentions.

Therefore, he really wanted to build a good relationship with Li Yèlái.

Li Yèlái, who was completely unaware, felt that his teammates were very enthusiastic.

However, since he couldn't see the sun, Li Yèlái felt a sense of time disorientation.

If he hadn't called Li Yúnyān outside to report that he was safe, he wouldn't have known he had been in the Black Prison for nine days.

"Twenty-one more days, and my brother will be out," came Li Yúnyān's voice from the other end of the communicator.

"How have things been lately?" Li Yèlái asked.

"Of course, Sister Puppet brings me food every day. I feel like I've gained a little weight. It seems that young girl wants to curry favor with her sister-in-law. It's quite exciting, hehe. I wonder how your beautiful senior's cooking is? When can I try it?" Li Yúnyān started talking to herself again.

Li Yèlái ignored her. He felt his sister always fantasized about things that weren't real.

Of course, more importantly, that beautiful senior, Cheese, was chatting with the administrative staff nearby.

"What a shame, big brother," Li Yúnyān said with regret. "You won't be able to make it to Fantasy Band's concert this time. I wanted you to get me some signed merchandise. You're an official, so you probably have a chance to meet their lead singer, right?"

Fantasy Band?

Li Yèlái racked his brain, finally recalling the popular band.

He asked, "After all these years, I didn't know you were a fan."

"I'm not a fan, but their autographs are valuable!" Li Yúnyān's voice was full of envy. "One autograph can sell for several hundred Mega City Coin. You guys work yourselves to death and still don't make as much money as they do. What kind of world is this?"

After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Yèlái hung up the phone with Li Yúnyān.

He needed to get ready to rest. He had another shift in a few hours.

Meanwhile, Border City No. 3 was unusually lively tonight.

The plaza in the South New District was packed with people.

Starfire, squeezed into the crowd, pulled his sister Shadowflow along. It took considerable effort, even activating his Psychic Barrier, just to barely get into the concert venue and find their seats.

"It really is lively," Starfire grumbled. "I've never seen so many people!"

Tens of thousands of spectators were inside the concert hall, and even more people outside were eagerly anticipating it.

"It's Fantasy Band!" Shadowflow, who was dressed up, exclaimed. "They're the hottest band in years. They started from Chuanshu Giant City, toured five Giant Citys, and finally made it to our Border City No. 3. Of course, it's lively. Actually, many people don't even know this band, but it's a rare chance for excitement. Look how many families are here."

Starfire followed his sister's gaze and indeed saw many families. Men holding their wives, carrying their daughters on their shoulders. They couldn't get inside the concert, but even so, they wore smiles, a happy family of three.

Ordinary and happy.

"Then we need to be even more careful. With this population density, any incident could lead to massive casualties," Starfire warned, looking into the distance. Many enforcers from East City Branch and other branches had also been dispatched to infiltrate the crowd, just in case anything happened.

Backstage at the concert, a handsome man sat alone in the lounge.

A shadow flashed beside him, and then a beautiful woman suddenly appeared.

She caressed the man's face. "Everything is ready. We can play the Song of Extinction at any time. At this power level, everyone who hears it will be affected to varying degrees. How many people are here? Fifty thousand? Or a hundred thousand?"

"Have you thought this through? Once it's played, there's no turning back for us. And your celebrity status, built over years, will vanish. You won't be the star Qin Zhi anymore, but a wanted criminal in all the Giant Citys! Those dangerous Night Watchmen will hunt you down in the wilderness!"

"Why are you still talking nonsense? To exchange one identity for one or even multiple chances for promotion. Is that even a calculation we need to make?" Qin Zhi embraced the woman, caressing her skin, and chuckled. "This will be a toast to our promotion! We are chosen by the Ark, why should we care about the lives of mere mortals? Besides, this trial might even be a good thing for them."

The woman also giggled softly. "It's confirmed. God's Whip is ready. Once it's swung, the Wáng banners held by the various Giant City branches will respond, summoning the legion of undead that once whipped the entire world!"

"Whipped the entire world? Hahaha." Qin Zhi laughed and shook his head. "They alone are not enough to shake the Giant Citys, let alone challenge the might of the Border Iron Guard. But those Forbidden Items will surely not pass up this opportunity! This way, the strength of the various branches will be tied down. That's enough for us."

"Come, let us wait and see if the grief of this world can move that mad Wáng!" Qin Zhi walked out of the lounge and stepped onto the stage.

The spotlight shone on him, and instantly, countless cheers erupted from the audience below.

Fans screamed his name.

Qin Zhi, however, brought a finger to his lips, signaling for quiet.

His handsome face and gentle expression made many female audience members shriek.

But soon, the noise gradually subsided.

Qin Zhi picked up the microphone and looked at the sea of people below, a faint smile on his face.

"Thank you, everyone in Border City No. 3, for coming to my farewell performance. After all these years, I'm really going to miss you all." His voice spread through the speakers.

"Farewell performance?" The audience was taken aback, not understanding why the superstar would say such a thing. He was still so young and handsome.

"What is he doing? He didn't tell us about something so big?" The other band members looked surprised, clearly hearing this for the first time.

"He's retiring with all this popularity? Is this some kind of gimmick?" Amidst their surprise, the media personnel immediately moved closer, intending to get the scoop.

But facing countless questions, Qin Zhi offered no explanation, continuing with a smile, "Please allow me to draw a perfect end to my final performance. An end the world will never forget!"

Then, as if nothing had happened, he raised his hand slightly, and the passionate accompaniment began. He picked up a guitar and strummed it forcefully, as if a fervent gust of air swept through the entire venue. The whole place seemed to forget its doubts and began to sway wildly.

"What does he want to do?" Starfire asked, confused. "Do you know, sis?"

"I don't know. Is he retiring? No way, out of the blue..." Shadowflow was also puzzled, but suddenly clutched her head in pain.

Starfire was startled and steadied his swaying sister. "What's wrong?"

Then he heard words that sent a chill down his spine.

"Big brother, my Soul Well is shaking."

Soul Well? Is she going to be distorted?

Recalling Mada's death, an overwhelming sense of dread instantly engulfed Starfire. After his good friend, was his own sister going to suffer such Misfortune? How could this happen? Out of nowhere!

No, absolutely not!

He grabbed <Shadowflow> and tried to forcibly take her away.

The <Soul Well> was only shaking now, not yet collapsing, there was still time!

However, when he looked around, he found that the audience had already fallen into a kind of frenzy.

They screamed, roared, and wailed, as if wanting to vent everything.

<Starfire> saw the happy family. The girl on her father's shoulders bit off his ear, and her father, laughing maniacally, smashed her hard onto the ground. The mother, witnessing all this, screamed and rushed forward to stop him, only to bite her husband's neck.

Further away, a couple embracing and kissing bit off each other's tongues with great force and began to gnaw on each other's lips.

The entire venue, and even outside the venue, was filled with a frenzied crowd.

Countless viewers seemed to have lost their reason, indulging their desires to their heart's content.

This was distortion!

Everyone here was distorting!

Seeing this scene, <Starfire>'s eyes split open with rage. He suddenly looked at the stage.

"It's him! Stop it quickly!" He leaped up with his sister on his back, using <Sky Stepping>, roaring with all his might, and rubbing his fingers vigorously.

A dazzling fireball ignited and exploded in mid-air, alerting all his colleagues!

Before him, however, handlers had already reacted and rushed towards the stage. Without hesitation, they cut off the power to the entire venue with a single slash.

However, even though all the lights went out, the singing did not stop.

The handlers' faces turned pale. They desperately fired their weapons, blowing up one speaker after another before finally bringing the singing to a halt.

And before the enraged handlers could get close, <Qin Zhi> bowed with a smile.

Then, he was embraced by a woman who suddenly appeared and vanished from the stage in an instant.

Looking at the increasingly frenzied crowd and the distorted beings that had appeared, the handlers' eyes split open with rage.

In an instant, alarms blared incessantly from all major branches and even the headquarters.

Meanwhile, <Li Yèlái>, asleep, felt an unusual fatigue and a sudden chill.

In his sleep, he couldn't help but pull the covers tighter.

But after only a few seconds, he felt himself being shaken violently. He wanted to wake up, but he couldn't open his eyes.

Until a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

"Listen to me, wake up!"

Only then did <Li Yèlái> struggle to open his eyes. He saw <Cheese>, wearing a loose pajama set, pressing down on his quilt and looking at him urgently.

She was grabbing his shoulders and shaking him forcefully.

The loose pajamas couldn't conceal her ample figure, causing her fair curves to sway before his eyes.

This made <Li Yèlái> momentarily unsure.

Was he having a dream he couldn't quite describe?

Or was <Cheese> trying to sneak attack him at night?

That shouldn't be right, right? <Cheese> only knew how to say suggestive things, where would she get the nerve? And he shouldn't be having this kind of dream, right?

<Li Yèlái>, his mind not yet clear, was lost in thought.

However, <Cheese>'s next sentence made <Li Yèlái> instantly sober up.

"Listen to me, wake up!"

"A <Forbidden Item> has broken containment!"

At this moment, <Li Yèlái> finally heard the dense alarm sounds.

'D-Class <Forbidden Item>, <Concealment Scarf>, has broken containment!'

'C-Class <Forbidden Item>, <Heart of Slaughter>, has broken containment!'

'B-Rank <Forbidden Item>, <Ice Witch>, has broken containment!'

'C-Class <Forbidden Item>, <Dream Eater>, has broken containment!'

'D-Class <Forbidden Item>, <Zhelan King's Banner>, has undergone drastic changes, danger level increased! Has broken containment!'