As the Azure Dragon’s Mortal Sun-Shattering Run began to circulate, a faint yet penetrating aura of metallic sharpness and austere killing intent gradually emanated from Yang Zicang’s body.

It was like being clad in a layer of spiky, icy light.

Unlike the turmoil of the elements, the purity of glass, or the stark division between night and day, this was a spiritual essence; a sharpness that turned the spirit more inward and focused, like a sharp stone and metallic earth energy lying dormant deep beneath the nine layers of the ground, ready to burst forth at any moment.

A strand of the “Azure Dragon’s ” intent was channeled into the Bloodline Resonance Statue in his hand.

｛I, the Great Quadrilateral, should I communicate with the “Spirit Fountain Brilliance Insight Mark ” to brand the Bloodline Resonance Statue?｝

“Spirit Fountain Brilliance Insight? “

Yang Zicang sensed this so-called Source of the Holy Spirit.

｛The distributor, Tata Mingqi, gave me a “Favorable Review. “｝

｛Distributor Di An, with extensive experience, indicated I am gestating a new node in a glorious prelude.｝

-｛Distributor May·Valkyrie gave me a “Favorable Review “.｝

This was clearly the sign I needed to choose the right one!

It must be it! Yang Zicang’s heart settled with certainty.

As he confirmed in his mind and input a wisp of Qi into his hand, he suddenly felt as if his consciousness was drawn up by an immense gravitational force from a void, the cosmos seemingly descending around him!

An indescribable “Source” of far greater spiritual energy, like the outlet of a cosmic “pump,” poured down directly toward his consciousness! The ethereal yet refined imprint rapidly expanded, engulfing the sea of his mind, and then crashed thunderously into the Bloodline Statue in his hand.

At that moment, the faceless figurine in Yang Zicang’s hand instantly forged an ineffably resonant bond with him.

The figurine greedily absorbed the faint yet intrinsically supreme “Sharp Intent” in his hand!

Words were unnecessary; with a stroke of genius, Yang Zicang raised the figurine high, and the lingering essence of the “Azure Dragon, Anguishing the Mountains, Severing All” served as a fuse, channeling the ethereal, refined energy from the void, hammering like a red-hot branding iron into the statue!

“Sacred …Source’s… Downcast Half-Gaze…?(神圣之源：灵源宝觑)”

Hmmmmmm~!

With a crisp crack, a tiny cavity that didn’t exist before was fully activated at the statue’s base.

At that moment, Yang Zicang’s will surged to unprecedented heights, as if everything in the world beneath him amounted to nothing more than trivial matters. All conflicts became fleeting smoke before his eyes. Yet, his presence was not vague or ethereal—it was an unstoppable force shooting through the heavens, an indomitable power of unmatched sharpness that destroyed all in its path.

It was at this moment that the force field behind them suddenly fluctuated; with a deafening roar, a cannonball shot into the force field wall that had vanished just as abruptly, hurtling directly towards their position!

“What, they actually dare to open fire!”

Boom!

A violent explosion ripped open a large hole in a nearby civilian house, sending bricks and debris slashing through the rain in all directions.

The blast of the cannon sent the townsfolk into panicked screams, especially those who had already been lying on the ground—they curled up all at once, like a swath of lobsters dropped into a pot of boiling water.

In that very flash, clusters of azure-born energy billowed out like mist, spreading from various points across the town.

Beneath the canvas, the few who had just gaped in astonishment that the troops outside were bold enough to fire realized the enemy’s intent in an instant.

That immense energy—that was what they were after!

Shock, terror, dread, despair!

In just a few breaths, these emotions swept through the town tempestuously: over a thousand townsfolk, swept up in that wave of replacement fear, howled and writhed uncontrollably, gripped by a wild frenzy like madmen out of control.

Ebiser shielded Lianna in his arms, staring in dread at the outside world, when he saw another dark speck hurtle straight towards them on the heels of another cannon blast.

This was a gunshot flying right into the midst of their own unit!

Weren’t those bastards outside afraid they might destroy the secret box they so desperately wanted?

“Get down!” bellowed the men under the canvas.

Boom!

Ebiser had already closed his eyes tightly. But in the midst of the violent shaking, he didn’t feel any pain at all; he opened his eyes.

Beside him was the Fog Man who had been traveling with Yang Zicang. Mr. He was holding his hands forward, a slowly rotating semi-transparent hexagonal force field blocking the shell that had exploded with a bang by his ear.

A fresh, arc-shaped crater had appeared on the ground.

“Wow! Uncle Fog Man is so cool!” Lianna cheered immediately.

He Yishu twitched the corner of his mouth. “Do I look that old?”

“Nice work.” Qiao Bing patted off the dust.

Suddenly, they all felt a sharp mental will rudely envelop the vicinity, spreading like a halo, radiating out and sweeping through the surroundings.

Everyone stiffened under this willpower, even their backs involuntarily straightened.

“It’s Mr. Yang!”

The few who had regained their footing all looked at Yang Zicang standing in the center.

The young man’s eyes had already opened. He saw the explosion and the now fully closed force-field barrier.

“Hmph, resorting to petty tricks only when we’re away from the force field.”

The cerulean energy mists striking the White Shadow Thought-Dragon grew even mightier amid these two blasts, but Yang Zicang’s spirit was now at its peak dominance, drastically increasing the solidity of the White Shadow Thought-Dragon and temporarily withstanding the dense onslaught from the bloodline contamination.

“Mr. Kaden.” Yang Zicang turned his head.

Kaden was anxiously staring into the depths of the storm ahead, from which faint, pained groans could be heard.

Hearing Yang Zicang’s call, Kaden immediately turned his head with hopeful expectation.

Yang Zicang gave a slight nod. “Please go and persuade Ms. WhitPeara.”

“Yes!” Facing this raging storm, Kaden clenched his teeth as countless tiny worm-like tentacles began to spread across his skin, causing the nearby people to immediately recoil and slash outward in disgust.

Lianna had just let out a “Yah!” when Ebiser covered her eyes with his broad palm.

“Don’t worry, my White Shadow Thought-Dragon will help you.”

The White Shadow Thought-Dragon, which had been constantly protecting the group, suddenly surged to life, pale golden phantom flames appearing on its body.

Yang Zicang turned to Qiao Bing. “Old Qiao, please deploy your force field to help us temporarily withstand these pure-energy storms. A sonic force field should be quite effective against energies like these, right? Also, everyone hug the ground for now to reduce your exposure in the air.”

The red force field was immediately deployed by Qiao Bing, and the White Shadow Thought-Dragon soared up, whooshing around to encircle Kaden.

“Go. Go and persuade her. If you can’t, I’ll have no choice but to intervene directly with the Sacred Artifact.”

Kaden’s eyes flickered with a jolt of surprise, then he realized—this was the condition to convince WhitPeara! That foolish woman, who valued missions above all else… Faced with this situation, she’d surely make the optimal choice quickly, wouldn’t she?

Outside the barrier.

On a hastily built wooden lookout tower, Mr. Ben accepted a military telescope from the sentry beside him, raising it to his eye and peering into the town.

“Damn it… Kaden really has betrayed us. And that thing next to him… could it be one of those ‘psychic’ monsters only the strongest Fogfolk have?”

“Probably, Mr. Ben. That thing can temporarily nullify energy erosion.”

Mr. Ben furrowed his brow.

“What are they doing going to the deepest part at a time like this? Even if they go persuade that woman, it won’t reverse the Miasma Pollution.”

“Hard to say. Unless they have a Bloodline Statue,” the sentry wiped rain from his face, “and it happened to never have stored a bloodline, or the one it ‘s did just shared a pulse-ring that communicates with the contaminated bloodline inside.”

“Hmph.” Mr. Ben gave a contemptuous smirk. “That kind of thing… is impossible.”

……

-{Distributor May Valkyrie notes, with extensive experience: I am gestating a new node at the prelude of brilliance.}

Yang Zicang stood upright in the rain, with several people lying behind him covered by canvas tarps, while Qiao Bing crouched beside them, firmly holding up a rippling force field of dark red light, weakening the surging miasma pollution energy.

Kaden, wrapped within the White Shadow Mind Dragon, strode step by step toward the heart of the storm like a demon god.

{Ugh… ah…}

“Urgh… ahhh…!”

The girl’s agonized screams faintly drifted from within the storm. Outside, Kaden could no longer see her clearly, but even just hearing those increasingly twisted cries broke his heart.

Those shouts seemed torn from the depths of her very soul, real to the point of spawning phantom echoes.

“WhitPeara!”

Each cry grew ethereal through the storm and rain, yet that familiar voice, even in its faintness, was a precious treasure to someone caught in utter despair. Like a man clutching the edge of a cliff who sees a new handhold extended—be it only a slender vine.

WhitPeara’s unbearable pain sounded one shade weaker.

“WhitPeara! Quickly, agree to let us contain the miasma bloodline! You can hear me, right?!” Kaden called out, overjoyed.

His shouts carried through the surroundings, reaching some townsfolk collapsed on the ground, not yet dead, who still heard him. Hope of a chance to survive was instantly born in their despairing hearts.

“Just agree! Just think it in your heart!” Kaden finished shouting and turned his head to look at Yang Zicang.

Yang Zicang over there nodded, the statue clenched tightly in his hand. He had long since, under the repeated inquiries by the model, chosen to agree to “Begin Containment of the Tainted Bloodline”!

But… it did not succeed.

Trying two more times, Yang Zicang lifted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“No good!” His voice pierced through the curtain of rain and the roar of the wind. “She didn’t agree!”

The people on the ground felt a silent tremor in their hearts. Waves of anger, disappointment, and regret began to assail those around them.

Caden was stunned for a moment. In disbelief, he looked towards the storm, where the deep, dull moans continued to echo.

She was in such agony, but… she actually…

Refused!

“Have you lost your mind!” Caden roared in fury. “Do you think you can do this? You have no idea how many innocent lives you’ll drag into this! Ah!”

Caden took a step forward. The body of White Shadow Mind Dragon was instantly swept by the wind. As he drew closer to the storm’s depths, the pressure he faced with each step seemed to multiply time and again.

“Give… up already!” Caden shouted with effort. “WhitPeara! You know how the Bureau handles… prisoner exchanges. You know what kind of scum they are… Let’s… get out of here… leave… this rotten place…”

The storm suddenly grew in intensity. A powerful repulsive force sent Caden staggering back two steps.

Reeling backward, he only then realized it wasn’t the storm that had grown stronger, but that WhitPeara inside had shifted two steps toward him, forcing him back.

Then the storm shrank back again.

This was… a rejection of him! Kaden thought, stunned. That woman, who always grumbled behind people’s backs, why now, at this moment, did she…

A figure rushed up from behind and stood beside him.

“Still can’t manage to contain it smoothly. I’m going to start my final attempt,” said Yang Zicang, feeling the distributor’s gaze upon him.

Doing this will definitely not fetch a high radiance acquisition price, but there’s no other choice.

His hand reached into his soaked coat, heading toward the silk scarf on his arm.

“Wait, hero!” Kaden called out tensely. “Give me a little more time. I’ll think of something, I’ll go in and subdue her!”

“How could you possibly get in.”

“How could… how could it be…” Kaden looked around frantically left and right, then bowed his head to the ground, his gaze shifting.

He raised his hand, and the palm radiated a faint, earthy-yellow energy, as if the entire hand had turned hard as packed earth.

Thud!

One palm slammed into the ground, erupting a pit like a bomb blast had gouged it out, the debris inside instantly swept up by the storm.

“It’s possible!”

Without any hesitation, Kaden’s hands struck down in rapid succession!

Bam, thud, bam!

Like a human excavator, in no time a ditch appeared in the ground—one wide enough for a person to lie down in. Within this gully, the swirling force of the storm weakened considerably, forming a suction-induced negative pressure cavity.

Yang Zicang’s pupils also lit up faintly.

This guy actually found a way, it’s just a bit… rough on the hands.

“WhitPeara! Wait for me!”

Feeling no urgency from the young man who crouched beside him, Kaden mustered more strength, slapping away at the wet soil before him.

He exhausted his internal energy, bloodied his hands, and simply gritted his teeth, clawing and digging… crawling like a worm, slowly worming his way towards the eye of the storm.

……

“What the hell are those two doing?”

Mr. Ben dragged his telescope over for another look, then suddenly glanced with surprise at something the crouching young man was holding.

Huh…?

That thing, which looked just like a mallet, somehow resembled a statue?

Mr. Ben put his telescope away, a ridiculous thought flashing through his mind: Had this Fogfolk carved a statue from a block of wood in some residential house?

His mind raced. Yang Buchen deliberately heads for the storm’s center, clutching that statue… trying to lure me into opening the force field? But I already did that, and there was no countermove from him…

Could he be delusional enough to think he can contain the Bloodline?

But that’s… that’s impossible!

He had clearly confirmed the guy had no Bloodline Statue on him.

“Mr. Ben,” a scout ran over to report, “something’s wrong. The two members we sent this morning to request the surveillance report still haven’t come back.”

“What!” Mr. Ben’s heart jolted, a sudden, unsettling possibility dawning on him.

He abruptly turned his head to look around, as if there were some terrifying and sinister thing on this wooden stand two meters above the ground.

“Quick, pass the order—everyone watch each other. Don’t let a single person fall out of sight alone!”

“Yes, sir!”

As that sentry ran off to deliver the message, a sense of inexplicable irritation and danger rose in Ben’s heart. The man put the telescope to his eye again—the faint figure on the ground had completely vanished from sight.

……

Caden finally, under the protection of the White Shadow Mind Dragon, bored his way into the center of the storm’s eye.

The atmosphere here was, in contrast, much calmer.

But Caden, having arrived here, was utterly unable to calm his heart.

Before his eyes, where was the graceful figure to be seen? In front of him… was only a humanoid “swollen mass” lying on the ground, all its skin cracking and bloated…

WhitPeara painfully turned her head to the other side, as if afraid to let the silent Caden see her appearance.

“…How… did you… not persuade me anymore…”

Knowing not how many breaths of silence had passed, Caden heard these words that needed utmost concentration to discern.

“WhitPeara, I…”

“Heh… we… just… complete this task… together… that’s all…” WhitPeara gathered all her demonic energy to her throat, allowing her to speak relatively smoothly.

“How could… people like us… ever… proceed, to a new world… dear… oh…”

Carden took a step forward, and the White Shadow Mind Dragon simultaneously touched the formless WhitPeara, causing her swollen, fleshy body to recoil. Carden immediately stopped.

“Don’t come closer… go away… Demonic Qi… it will be contained, and the Secret Box won’t be yours to claim… As long as I persist, till the very end… maybe, your… remaining days, you could truly find a good girl… live some… normal…”

“No.”

WhitPeara’s voice hitched.

Carden, trembling as he spoke that word, continued firmly:

“Believe in the ‘heroes,’ WhitPeara. In this world, there really are people and powers beyond our understanding. I’ve already seen it!”

Carden walked through the White Shadow Mind Dragon, crouched down, and cradled WhitPeara’s formless body in his arms.

“WhitPeara, let’s go together. The heroes will find a way to save this world. I will too—I’ll find another Secret Box, just like a true Fogfolk, become their bodyguard, ask the Box’s master to take us to the Next Era Land.”

WhitPeara was silent for a long time.

“But… I’m already like this…”

“You can!” Suddenly, another voice rang out from underground.”

Both gazes strained to look toward it.

Clutching the statue, Yang Zicang crawled through the trench Carden had arched his way into, half-burrowed amid the vortex as he shouted upward with gritted determination.

“Give it up! WhitPeara!”

“It’s… the hero…”

“I will take good care of this bloodline, and I promise I will find a way to heal you! Kadden, you should know, I still have another Bloodline Statue, and you know what the ‘Radiance Mark’ means, don’t you!”

Kadden’s body trembled. “You… you would be willing to use something so precious, to treat us…?”

“Saving the lives of you all—isn’t that the greatest wish recorded in the Saint’s memoirs!”

Yang Zicang roared:

“Changing the doomed fates of you lot is the ultimate mission for us Fogfolk who came to this continent!”