The building rattled, and the chandelier swayed gently.

The “people ” around seemed oblivious, still immersed in their own conversations. But Yang Zicang keenly caught this abnormal fluctuation.

Bai Yuxian’s face changed; he grabbed Yang Zicang’s wrist fiercely: “Damn! They’re after us! Let’s go! ” His voice was thick with urgency. The young man stumbled as Bai pulled him along.

The two ran out the door. Yang Zicang was shocked to see that the distant world, from midair down to the ground, flickered with the outline of another realm—an intrusion from a world beyond.

“W-What is that?!” The “pedestrians” on the street finally caught sight of the apocalyptic scene, letting out terrified screams. Bai Yuxian gripped Yang Zicang’s hand, pulling him along like a sports car speeding through the chaotic, screaming crowd with agile ease.

“Just who are you?!“

Yang Zicang shouted as he was forced to run.

｛Fear｝, ｛Shock｝, ｛Superman｝, ｛Superhuman｝, ｛Doubt｝…

-｛Loki Tata Mingqi, dealer: Time to get up.｝

-｛Loki Tata Mingqi, dealer: Run for it.｝

-｛Dealer February Dian is watching my life unfold right now.｝

-｛Dealer Tata Mingqi has a sore throat.｝

Those imagined voices again.

“I told you, I’m Bai Yuxian! Remember, I was an agent of the Lion Emperorate!“

“Yuxian? Lion Emperorate? Are you from some lost wasteland? What the hell is that thing behind us?!“

“It’s the Soldiers!” Bai Yuxian shouted without turning his head.

A bird perched on a towering lamppost, tilting its head and watching the duo fleeing below with sparkling, keen eyes.

“The Soldiers must have found us through the Etheric Foundation!“

“Soldiers?” Yang Zicang felt a jolt of déjà vu. “And foundation,” as though he’d heard that name somewhere. He couldn’t help but look back…

That apocalyptic scene was swallowing everything up faster than the eye could track!

The once-prosperous city was violently supplanted by patchworks of ancient land—streets shattered, buildings collapsed, debris rapidly dissolving and disintegrating amidst the screams of people, revealing a fluorescent, twisted wasteland and ruins beneath!

The azure sky was smeared with a layer of frigid breath.

｛Shocking!｝

｛Shocking!｝, ｛Shocking!｝, ｛Insignificance｝, ｛Fear!｝… The overwhelming sense of oppression nearly suffocated Yang Zicang.

Bai Yuxian felt the intense emotional turmoil surging within Yang Zicang. He gritted his teeth, “Why do I have to get lost in the world of Mist State right now… Damn it! As long as I fall into these memories of the past… Even though this place really is intoxicating…! “

He whipped his head around to look at the ‘Heaven&Earth Upside Down’ roaring toward them at breakneck speed.

“Damn it! If I lose control of my emotions for even a second, we’re both done for! There’s no time to think about that! ” All he could do was pray that the Soldier had not yet discovered that he was the one involved!

He abruptly pulled out his “Ether Business Card ” and held it high above his head, roaring at the collapsing sky and earth with a voice filled with desperate madness: “Listen! I will be the final winner! Absolutely! “

The energy of the Trait enveloped them both.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The moment the Ether Business Card rippled with layers of information waves, a colossal fist shadow—forged from pure spiritual power and coiled with destructive energy—seemed to disregard spatial barriers, crashing violently down from the collapsing sky.

Before the fist even arrived, a terrifying shockwave had already descended!

The street shattered like paper! The buildings on both sides, as if struck by an invisible behemoth, instantly turned into dust. The asphalt road was uprooted in massive slabs, and vehicles were hurled into the air like toys!

“Ahhh! “

In this cataclysmic blow, Bai Yuxian’s figure was hit like a sledgehammer. The energy around him twisted violently, and the glyphic information forming his “Hundred Crowns ” identity suddenly erupted with blinding light before he was brutally blasted away!

Yang Zicang was also violently flung aside by the chaotic surge of wild energy. The two, like broken kites with severed strings, were ruthlessly thrown and crashed at the edge of the city.

“I… I’m actually not dead? “

｛Doubt｝、｛Terror｝、｛Sanctuary｝、｛Mystery｝…

“Stop thinking about it! “

The two twisted around to see the “world-overturning chaos ” hurtling toward them at high speed from behind. The apocalyptic force seemed to awaken, hurtling along the shattered earth towards their location.

Thump-thump-thump!

“Cuckoo~ ” The bird perched atop the towering streetlamp spread its wings and took flight.

Yang Zicang felt his soul nearly flee his body. “It’s coming at us again! Why?! “

Panic-stricken, Yang Zicang gritted his teeth and scrambled to his feet from the ground.

“Fairy, we need to run faster. Damn it, if we had a high-speed train, we’d definitely get away quicker. “

No sooner had the words been spoken than “Woo——! “

A long, piercing whistle tore through the air.

At the end of the road, a somewhat familiar streamlined dark red train rapidly came to a halt beside a platform conjured by an illusion!

Bai Yuxian, nearly spitting in frustration, quickly grabbed his companion—a man with remarkably strong mental power—and rushed toward the train.

“Kid, you’re clearly capable of… forget it! “

“Fairy, what are you talking about? ” Yang Zicang, following along, was startled.

Suddenly, a figure shot in from the side like a cannonball. The moment Bai Yuxian turned his head, his entire body went numb, limbs tingling.

｛Disaster｝, ｛Failure｝, ｛Exposed｝, ｛Discovered｝, ｛Fugitive｝, ｛What to do｝…

A torrent of intense negative emotions erupted from Bai Yuxian with a clarity he had never felt before. He didn’t hesitate for a second, biting the tip of his tongue, relying on the sharp pain to steady his mind.

“It’s you! ” The charging figure exclaimed in shock.

｛Unbelievable｝, ｛Secret Mission｝, ｛Someone Suspicious of Betrayal｝, ｛Truth Seeker｝…

Baiguan skidded to a halt, whipping around.

｛I am the Champion of a Hundred Victories｝, ｛Calm｝, ｛No Inevitable Death｝, ｛Situation Control｝, ｛Wording｝, ｛Love to Explain｝!

“Immortal! “

“Get to the car. Remember, you are the most special person in this world—you can overcome anything! You possess the power to slaughter gods and immortals! The Trajectory is your leverage! “

The man in the distance chuckled lightly. “I see. As expected of one bearing Fogfolk blood, with the trait of treachery flowing through your very bones. “

Bai Yuxian’s face gradually manifested a strange visage of energy transformation.

“A colonel of the Dual Lion Army… I never expected our first meeting in the Ether World to be under such circumstances. “

“Who is that person? Don’t tell me you’re on some mission—I’ve already read the mental waves you’re emitting. “

Yang Zicang glanced at the two, countless emotions surging through his mind, only to be suppressed by sheer shock.

Bai Yuxian looked back. “What are you waiting for? Get in the car and run! “

“Go where? Immortal, what should I do next? “

“Immortal my ass! Get the hell to the ends of the world, somewhere no one can find you! Meditate! Sit still! Awaken your power, and then… “

Whoosh~!

Bai Yuxian’s figure suddenly flickered, and the so-called Colonel had already shot to where he stood just a moment ago, his voice still roaring, “Then do what you must! “

“Who is that person? ” The Colonel’s five fingers emanated a nimble aura as he thrust his palm forward.

Boom! Bai Yuxian raised his arm, instantly blocking several successive strikes as their heads leaned close, locking eyes. “Baiguan ” gave a cold snort, retreating rapidly.

“You’ll know. But not now. “

“The dignified intelligence chief of the Blood Beasts, how dare you betray the Empire! “

Rumble rumble rumble! The ground of the spirit world suddenly receded at breakneck speed.

The ground and the city, like living beings, transformed as a high-speed train departed, vanishing from their original locations in a flash.

“I did not betray! “

“Save your excuses for the military court, Director. Soldier No. 4… has locked onto this location. Surrender now, Director. “

“Bai Yuxian ” “Hundred Crown ” stood panting in place, struggling to keep his emotions calm. If he inadvertently fell into a spiritual illusion for even an instant, everything would be lost.

He didn’t understand why this was happening.

Could it be that someone had been watching his movements? Or perhaps… “Qijun City ” or “Weiting Travel Merchant Association ” had invested in their fates, triggering a chain effect that implicated him, who was coincidentally connected?

But the most likely possibility was still the struggle for “Divine Hotel. “

Yes, it must be so—only a contest for the Divine Hotel would warrant such a massive bet.

A bet so large that Soldier No. 4 was dispatched, yet failed to capture “Wager, ” who held the right to distribute keys; a bet so large that the confidential plan he personally devised encountered a damned change at the very last moment before entering the hotel; a bet so large that a newcomer who could immediately seize control of the “Divine ” lost his way amidst his own choices!

Who could it be…

Whoever it is, at least…

“Not bad, calming your emotions already in just 3.5 seconds. “

The Army Colonel stood upright, with a faint smile on his face.

“Director, you can’t escape. Raise your ‘business card’ and deactivate the Ether Shuttle. ” His gaze flickered toward the sky on the verge of complete collapse in the distance, “Let the General see, and let me see, what expression he’ll have when his chosen one betrays him. “

“I’ve said it, I’m not a traitor. “

All of Bai Yuxian’s mental power was dedicated to resisting the ubiquitous ｛Absolute Chill｝ lock, and to keeping himself from getting completely lost in the illusion.

The corner of his eye was fixed, with utter intensity, on the spot where Yang Zicang had vanished…

Failure. The first time I tried to live for myself, and it failed so thoroughly.

“Fine… I’ll deactivate the ‘Ether Beacon Channel’. “