Spiritual Energy Riot

Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan hurried downstairs and boarded the Flying Shuttle. Wu Yan skillfully activated the Drive Formation, and the Flying Shuttle immediately lifted off, speeding toward East City District.

Once they left the East City District highway and their line of sight crossed a mountain peak, they saw a dazzling band of colored light on the horizon ahead. It was the Spell Barrier the City Defense Bureau used to seal off and isolate major incidents!

In what seemed like the blink of an eye, dozens of Flying Shuttles from different Public Security Offices converged on the highway from all directions, racing at top speed toward the designated assembly point at the Barrier's edge. Those seated aboard were at least captain-level officers from their respective Public Security Offices.

"Such a massive deployment..."

Wu Yan watched the scene ahead, his expression grave as he controlled the Flying Shuttle. "This Spiritual Energy Riot is probably the largest one in recent years."

Yang Wenqing did not answer. He merely stared at the enormous Barrier, unconsciously touching the Azure Edge shortsword at his waist. Feeling a faint yet distinct response from its blade, he took out his pistol and checked the bullets in its magazine.

The Flying Shuttle soon reached the temporary assembly point outside the Barrier. Quite a few people had already gathered there. Yang Wenqing spotted several familiar faces—captains from Public Security Offices in other districts. When they saw him, they merely nodded in greeting, their eyes likewise filled with confusion and gravity.

Yang Wenqing soon noticed a simple altar that had been hastily erected before the colossal curtain of Barrier light. Standing atop it was a middle-aged man in the white uniform of a Police Commissioner. He was Deputy Director Zhou, the branch bureau's other deputy director, who oversaw Internal Affairs Oversight.

Deputy Director Zhou held a command flag, spiritual power surging around him as he worked with several formation masters to maintain the Barrier's stability. Under his direction, the flowing light across the vast Barrier curtain seemed more orderly, yet the violent ripples that occasionally spread over its surface revealed the extreme instability of the energy within.

On an open patch of ground nearby, a fifty-man unit of Prefectural Soldiers clad in dark armor had already formed up. Moving swiftly, they were setting up several cannons inscribed with Armor-Breaker and Explosive Runes!

Yang Wenqing and Wu Yan exchanged a glance, each seeing the gravity in the other's eyes.

"Wen Qing, over here!"

A voice suddenly rang out to Yang Wenqing's left.

Following the voice, Yang Wenqing saw Wang Jianchao, captain of the Major Crimes Unit's First Squad and also deputy leader of the Major Crimes Unit. Beside him stood Liu Xin, captain of the Second Squad. The two were changing clothes, and their original clothing bore obvious tears.

It seemed these two had been the first to discover the abnormal spiritual energy here. They had already gone through a battle.

As he walked over, Wang Jianchao instructed Wu Yan, "Xiao Wu, report to the temporary pre-battle Logistics Office and follow their unified arrangements."

"Yes!"

Wu Yan nodded, then obediently left.

After Wu Yan departed, Wang Jianchao said, "There's going to be a hard battle shortly. Deep in the forest, a rogue cultivator set up a Spirit-Gathering Formation, causing many of the wild beasts inside to mutate. There are spirit creatures, demons, and some twisted monsters."

He looked at Yang Wenqing. "The three of us will form a combat team. You two are responsible for covering me!"

"Alright!" Yang Wenqing agreed without hesitation. He did not ask why this Spirit-Gathering Formation had not been discovered during the cleanup before the New Year.

"Take these!" Wang Jianchao pulled two Type-1 Pistol magazines and an Energy Crystal from his Storage Bag.

Yang Wenqing's gaze was immediately drawn to the Energy Crystal. This thing was the Spirit Stone of this world, except it was artificially collected and produced. Even one of the lowest grade cost five thousand yuan. It could rapidly restore spiritual energy in one's Qi Sea and could also be used to cast certain spells and seals that required massive amounts of spiritual energy.

Just then, a series of roars echoed from inside the Barrier, followed by a dull, drumlike booming that resounded beside their ears. Soon afterward, seven branch bureau leaders in white uniforms emerged from the nearby temporary command post. Among them were Deputy Director Gao, Wang Ren, and Branch Director Zhang Qiming.

They rapidly exchanged opinions and reached an agreement in just over ten seconds. Then Yang Wenqing heard Deputy Director Gao's voice through the Communication Formation in his badge: "Everyone who sees me, assemble at my position."

After issuing the order, Deputy Director Gao did not remain where he was. Instead, he quickly moved toward the western side of the Barrier.

"Let's go!"

Yang Wenqing, Wang Jianchao, and Liu Xin immediately followed. As they moved toward Deputy Director Gao, Yang Wenqing noticed that two other groups were answering his call as well.

Both groups consisted of colleagues from the Operations Division, all captain-level Veteran Police Sergeants—in other words, Qi Refinement Practitioners. They were likewise organized into three-person combat teams, six people in total, carrying rifles fitted with rune rails. Their firepower was far beyond that of pistols.

Leading the three assembled groups, Deputy Director Gao swiftly passed through the outer perimeter of the temporary camp. About fifteen minutes later, they arrived beside a stream in an area where the forest was relatively sparse.

After stopping, Deputy Director Gao immediately swept his sharp gaze over everyone. Then he took out a signal pistol and fired into the sky, launching a conspicuous red flare.

Only then did Deputy Director Gao speak. "Advance in fan formations by combat team. Stay alert. Prioritize eliminating mutated creatures, locate and destroy the core of the Spirit-Gathering Formation, and if you encounter anything you cannot handle, fire a distress signal immediately!"

He first looked toward the Operations Division colleagues. "Advance from both flanks!"

At the order, the two Operations Division teams sprang out first like cheetahs. One went left and the other right, using the trees for cover as they swiftly vanished into the gloomy forest.

Then Deputy Director Gao looked at Yang Wenqing's group. "Stay close behind me and clean up any fish that slip through my net!" As his words fell, he flicked out his left hand, and a flying sword immediately shot from his sleeve, hovering at his side.

At this point, the roars within the Barrier grew increasingly fierce. Deputy Director Gao immediately charged into the Barrier, with Yang Wenqing, Wang Jianchao, and Liu Xin following close behind.

"Wen Qing, in areas affected by a Spiritual Energy Riot, spirit herbs can grow in just a few minutes. We'll point out their locations later. Make sure to collect them!"

As Wang Jianchao spoke, he tossed Yang Wenqing a Storage Bag.

Deputy Director Gao ahead also said, "That's right, Wen Qing. Stay behind us. Your primary objective is to scout out these treasures."

"Alright!"

Yang Wenqing accepted the Storage Bag and looked up at the Barrier in the sky. The scale of this operation looked immense, but compared to clearing out the monsters created by the Spiritual Energy Riot, the people who had come here clearly cared more about the spirit herbs and treasures growing within.

Moreover, after entering the Barrier, he discovered that the Golden Core in his mind was madly absorbing and refining the violent spiritual energy here. Yet after absorbing it, his Qi Sea could not contain it, so it could only all be used to nourish his body, giving him an urge to stop and cultivate.

This situation had another benefit: fighting here, the spiritual energy in his Qi Sea was almost inexhaustible. Just then, Deputy Director Gao ahead activated the flying sword hovering beside him.