LRAB Chapter 1297 - 499: Chu Yan
Chapter 1297 - 499: Chu Yan
Beneath a city shrouded in a scarlet glow, only the outlines of a ruined city remained, with the gray, decayed skeletons of steel piercing through the blood-mist-covered sky. Amidst the ruins of a street inscribed with the words ’Starlight Avenue,’ a gray-skinned zombie dragged its broken leg in aimless wandering. Its decaying boot scraped over the star-shaped stone carvings once signed by international celebrities, sending stone chips flying and emitting an eerie wailing.Five hundred meters below this ground, a titanium alloy gate silently slid open—
A cold, eerie blue light emanated from the bottom of a vertical elevator shaft. The echo of high heels striking the alloy floor resonated through the sealed passageway. The automatic door at the end of the tunnel opened, revealing a hundred-meter-square circular black hall. Hua Xiaoling was slumped in the curved command chair, the dark leather embracing her slender shoulders. Her legs crossed as three beams of holographic projection sliced through space, hovering in front of her.
On the left, Chen Yanshu, the leader of the Holy Revelation, toyed with a silver pocket watch, the reflection off his glasses concealing his expression. On her right was a middle-aged man with blonde hair, his face stern and shadowed—this was Villand, leader of the Holy City Organization. Directly facing her was an elderly man with white slicked-back hair, a face like a tempered steel blade, and eagle eyes piercing through the streaming data.
An assistant quickly approached, whispering in Hua Xiaoling’s ear. Before the murmur ended, she had already raised her hand, dismissing the person with an airy wave. Once the automatic door relocked, her spine slowly left the back of the chair, her voice like an icicle chiseling into the frozen silence.
"We just received news, Lin Xian is still alive and is currently at Sentry Post 374."
"How is that possible?!" Villand, the leader of the Holy City, immediately voiced coldly. "Our people have been watching the Hakko battlefield for two months, and the Phoenix Society has been looking for him. Exposed in the scarlet for so long, even a Mecha would have been corrupted!"
On the left, Chen Yanshu’s eyes slightly narrowed.
Hua Xiaoling’s brows gently lifted, her tone exceptionally calm: "Just now, he activated Civilization Preview No. 39081."
The hall suddenly fell into dead silence. Villand’s expression froze, Chen Yanshu’s pocket watch snapped closed, and his gaze immediately turned to the elder in the center.
After a long pause, the elder finally spoke in a somewhat hoarse low voice.
"Failed?"
"Yes," Hua Xiaoling continued in a plain tone. "Chu Yan has cut a part of her consciousness into the Civilization Preview System, the part that was supposed to be devoured by the Master."
"Spiritual power control...?" Villand squinted his eyes, glancing at Chen Yanshu with an eye, coldly saying: "Isn’t the Holy Revelation supposed to be the most familiar with the Master’s power? Hmph, leaving such a hidden danger!"
Upon hearing this, a trace of anger flashed in Chen Yanshu’s eyes, yet he responded calmly: "My task is to investigate and sever the spiritual link between Lin Xian and Chu Yan, preventing Lin Xian from maintaining communication with the Phoenix Society. Other issues are not my concern."
"Not related?!"
Villand sneered and then spoke to the elder in the center: "Mr. Shi, from the actions of the Phoenix Society, our suspicions are almost confirmed. The fact that this guy is still alive proves the issue."
The elder, called Mr. Shi, kept his gaze on Hua Xiaoling, asking:
"Xiao Ling, the Master’s arrival is imminent, and Ye Lan likely already has plans. How are you preparing?"
"Mentor," Hua Xiaoling said calmly, "First of all, Lin Xian being alive is good news for us. Even if the plan to cut and replace his faith consciousness through the Civilization Preview System failed, I believe there’s no need to worry excessively."
"Oh?" Chen Yanshu said with interest, "This man can’t be killed now, and his death would cause more trouble than if he were alive. The mental attack failed, and who knows what Chu Yan revealed to him. He’s bound to be on guard next; in this situation, you still think there’s no need to worry?"
"Will they send Lin Xian directly to the Polar, or do they plan to continue searching for the train group?" Villand asked at this point.
"It’s hard to say. The Phoenix Society will certainly protect Lin, but this Lin... looking at his previous actions, he likely won’t abandon his convoy," Chen Yanshu replied.
Hua Xiaoling, with a stern face, directly responded: "First, compared to what we want, Ye Lan’s ideas and plans pose no real threat. Secondly, Lin risked using Flashing Bullets to traverse beyond the Heavenly Veil just to rescue Chu Yan in Dawn City. So with his character, he will undoubtedly activate the Civilization Preview Ball again. Thirdly, he will definitely go to Colorado..."
Her eyes flickered: "Don’t forget, we still have a trump card!"
"Whether it’s dangerous or not isn’t for us to determine," Chen Yanshu’s eyes slightly narrowed, and he spoke in a forceful tone: "To the Master, there is only existence or non-existence. You and I both know this is about whether we can keep the chance for civilization’s survival, right?"
"Enough, we have many things to do before the Master’s arrival. We must weaken the Storm Sea Defense Line and infiltrate Kunlun City. Prolonged resistance is a double loss for both the Master and humanity. To grasp a slim chance, the next period is crucial!"
Mr. Shi looked at Hua Xiaoling: "Make arrangements quickly. From now on, all tasks concerning Lin Xian are under your department’s responsibility."
"Understood," Hua Xiaoling responded.
Immediately, the three holographic projections gradually disappeared, and the room returned to silence and darkness.
Hua Xiaoling closed her eyes slightly, seemingly lost in thought. After a moment of calm, she suddenly spoke: "Emotions are humanity’s shackles; you have a clear understanding of that now, don’t you?"