Chapter 220: The Meat Grinder (Part 1)

Chapter 220: The Meat Grinder (Part 1)

“I... ptooey, ptooey, ptooey.”

As Jie Fangcheng began to speak, a mouthful of sand blown by the wind got into his mouth.

While he was spitting it out, the figure in front of him cursed again and tried to place his own mask over Jie Fangcheng's face.

Jie Fangcheng was grateful for the gesture, but the mask looked dirty from the outside and inside, he could see mud formed by sweat.

Horrified, Jie Fangcheng swiftly dodged the mask at an unprecedented speed.

The man offering the mask was taken aback, not expecting Jie Fangcheng to react as if he were avoiding a venomous snake.

He then put his mask back on, staring at Jie Fangcheng through the window of the mask.

“What's your deal, kid??”

Jie Fangcheng kept his mouth shut and made a few gestures. The other man couldn't decipher them but didn't wait to figure it out. He grabbed Jie Fangcheng and started leading him forward.

The surrounding winds were so ferocious they felt more like a force than a breeze. The man in front, bearing the brunt of the wind and leading the way, was Dai Fengping, and every step he took was strenuous.

He had ventured out on a mission, but just the day before, they encountered a mini tornado. In the chaos, he got separated from his team.

Dai Fengping could only console himself with the thought that the ground grabbers and wind instruments were with the other members of his team. There were five of them in total; they should manage to bring the resources back to Cangcui Island.

The Eclipse is almost upon them, and neither he nor the newfound member from an unknown team have entered Cangcui Island.

As the Eclipse draws nearer, the wind's strength increases... both of them might meet their end here.

Every step felt like trudging through a marsh. The swirling sand became weapons, pelting their protective gear, feeling like countless tiny razor blades. Even through the protective gear, the force was palpable.

He was wearing protective gear and was already in such a state; he wondered if the youngster he had just found was dead...

Just as Dai Fengping struggled to look back and check if the person he was shielding was still breathing, everything went dark before his eyes.

A figure, dressed only in a T-shirt and jeans, seeming rather frail, stood before him, swiftly grasping Dai Fengping's wrist.

Amidst the raging wind, Jie Fangcheng squinted, leaving only a narrow slit to navigate the path. He had fashioned a makeshift mask from a torn piece of his T-shirt, appearing like a veiled avenger.

Jie Fangcheng pointed ahead, silently asking Dai Fengping if they were heading in the right direction.

Bewildered, Dai Fengping just managed to nod in agreement when he saw the other move forward confidently, as if the ground beneath his feet was as solid as ever, the grip on his wrist unyielding.

？？？

Caught off guard, Dai Fengping stumbled, but Jie Fangcheng effortlessly steadied him before proceeding.

Who the heck is this guy?

Dai Fengping couldn't resist glancing at his companion's feet.

No special footwear, just an ordinary pair of white sneakers... and oddly, they seemed too clean.

Impossibly clean.

It had been 179 years since the apocalypse began.

Blinding winds and golden sands had become the world's backdrop, everyone coated in layers of grime. While there was no scarcity of water, with humanity mastering desalination techniques, even the inner city of Cangcui Island, protected by the "Angel's Eye," was submerged in a hazy gloom of dust and dirt.

Most people's attire quickly gathered a layer of dirt after washing, leading to the popularity of dirt-resistant hues of yellow-brown and dusty gray.

Yet, here was this stranger, in a white tee, blue jeans, and pristine white shoes. Not entirely unheard of, some vain youngsters did dress this way, but never when embarking on a mission outdoors.

Why would he come to the Windfield dressed so immaculately? And where was his protective gear?

Without the protection, the very sands of the Windfield could be lethal, not to mention the lurking mutated scorpions...

As if on cue, the ground ahead of Jie Fangcheng collapsed, revealing the stinger of a colossal scorpion, lunging directly at him.

"Watch out for the scorpi... What the?!"

Jie Fangcheng deftly grabbed the tail, pulling out the meter-long behemoth embedded in the sand.

As the scorpion writhed attempting to strike him, Jie Fangcheng, fearing it might escape, released its tail, grabbing its body and shaking it violently.

What kind of strength did he possess? Within moments, the scorpion's insides turned to mush, and it lay limp and lifeless.

Holding the scorpion carcass in front of him, Jie Fangcheng shielded himself from the sand-laden winds.

Dai Fengping heard him sigh in relief.

Dai Fengping was left... speechless.

With the massive scorpion carcass shielding them, Jie Fangcheng finally managed to utter a complete sentence: "We're heading in the right direction, aren't we?"

"...Yes."

"Got it."

Jie Fangcheng continued to lead the way earnestly, one hand firmly holding onto Dai Fengping's wrist.

The journey was filled with silence between the two.

Jie Fangcheng chose not to speak. Even with the scorpion carcass as a barrier, the relentless winds, gusting from every direction, made every attempt at speech feel like a test of his oral hygiene.

As for Dai Fengping, his mind felt completely blank.

Had humanity evolved again? He hadn't heard of a second evolution.

In their quiet pace, they moved swiftly.

Eventually, Jie Fangcheng didn't need to determine their direction anymore; towering city walls, rising tens of meters high, came into view.

Upon first seeing Dai Fengping, Jie Fangcheng assumed they were in a relatively primitive world, given the lack of tech-savviness in Dai's attire.

But the sight of the city walls made him realize his misconception.

Before them stood a steel city, the exterior of the walls coated in a gleaming silver metal.

From a distance, they could see robots bustling around the city gates, making repairs and transporting goods.

Atop the grand walls, soldiers dressed in futuristic silver garb, equipped with exoskeletal backpacks and wielding laser guns, patrolled diligently.

Above the city, a massive mechanical eyeball continually rotated.

Impressive! So advanced!

Also—

That eyeball must be the "Angel's Eye," right?

Staring at the gigantic eyeball from afar, Jie Fangcheng found himself deep in thought.

How could he possibly take that with him? It was immeasurably larger than he'd anticipated.

As Jie Fangcheng pondered this, they finally reached the base of the city walls.

Only upon closer inspection did he realize there was a transparent barrier encasing the city. It didn't obstruct him, but the hovering Angel's Eye seemed to glance in his direction.

The usually silent Dai Fengping only sighed in relief once Jie Fangcheng also passed through the barrier.

It was a protective membrane that only humans could traverse, designed to shield the city from the sandy winds and the lurking mutated creatures within the sand.

Throughout the journey, Dai Fengping had been fervently recalling various sci-fi novels, even suspecting at one point that his companion might be some desert creature in disguise.

Now that he had successfully passed through the protective membrane and confirmed he was human, Dai Fengping finally let out a sigh of relief.

With mixed emotions, he said, "Hello, my name is Dai Fengping. Thank you for saving me. You are…?"

Jie Fangcheng replied cheerfully, "Jie Fangcheng."

"Which team are you from? Why did you enter the wind field without protective gear? Where's your gear?" As he spoke, Dai Fengping's imagination was already running wild.

He had heard some rumors that some mischievous youngsters would lead those they had disputes with into the wind field to seize their equipment and supplies intentionally.

Inside the wind field, without protective gear and ground grabbers, you were essentially left to die.

...Although Dai Fengping still couldn't comprehend how this Jie Fangcheng managed to navigate the wind field with such ease, the fact remained that he was alone without protective gear or ground grabbers.

Who would have thought there would be such bullying within Cangcui Island? Weren't these people afraid of the patrol guards?

Just then, Dai Fengping heard the man opposite him say, "Oh? I'm not with any team."

After that statement, Jie Fangcheng added, "By the way, where exactly is this?"

"What??" Dai Fengping was momentarily dumbfounded. "Where else could this be? This is Cangcui Island!"

Where did this kid come from?

Dai Fengping's brows furrowed, but at that moment, robots approached to clear the sand and dust around them.

Regardless, the somewhat peculiar man before him had saved his life. As Dai Fengping spread his arms allowing the robots to clean him, he chatted with Jie Fangcheng.

"Brother, I really appreciate your help! How about we go for a meal later? My treat."

Given the current depletion of various plant and animal resources, the flora and fauna cultivated within Cangcui Island were precious and regarded as protected research assets.

Nowadays, everyone sustains themselves on nutrient solutions, so when someone offers to "take you out for a meal," it means sampling different flavors of these solutions.

Jie Fangcheng spread his arms just as Dai Fengping had: "Sounds good."

"What flavor do you prefer? We recently developed a Mapo Tofu flavor; would you like that?"

"Sure! I'm not picky..."

As the two were engrossed in their conversation, an alarm suddenly blared from the surrounding robots.

​1​

In the next moment, the robots, which had been holding devices resembling blow dryers, quickly retracted them. Their mechanical arms transformed into what looked like laser guns, aiming directly at Jie Fangcheng.

"Huh? Hey, what's this about?"

Before Jie Fangcheng could fully process the situation, Dai Fengping was already growing anxious.

Over the years since the apocalypse, perhaps in the early days when the environment first began to deteriorate, humanity wasn't entirely united.

The threats then came not just from nature but also from within human society itself.

But as time went on, with death tolls rising and the surviving humans forced to take refuge on Cangcui Island, whether they liked it or not, they had to come together.

It had been many years, and the term "invasion" was usually associated with creatures like "giant scorpions" or "sea octopuses." This was the first time Dai Fengping had heard a warning of an "unidentified intruder."

Instantly, all the robots and the soldiers on the walls pointed their guns and cannons at Jie Fangcheng.

"Ah..." Jie Fangcheng, slightly taken aback, made a motion as if to scratch his head, but a voice from the wall stopped him.

"Don't move!!"

Though the tone was harsh, Jie Fangcheng could understand their concern!

As fellow inhabitants of this fragile world, if he saw an unidentified intruder in his own world, Jie Fangcheng's reaction would probably be even more aggressive.

So, he patiently remained still.

Shortly after, the gates of Cangcui Island opened, and an officer dressed in a white uniform stepped out, giving Jie Fangcheng a thorough once-over.

Jie Fangcheng's current appearance was far from flattering. His T-shirt was cut short, torn by him to serve as a makeshift mask. What were once grey-blue jeans had now faded to a dusty blue. His shoes were covered in dust, and Jie could feel grit inside them.

His hair looked even worse. Originally black, it now bore a dusty gray hue. Covered in grime from head to toe and still wearing the torn “mask,” he looked even more wretched than Dai Fengping, who had been wandering in the wind field for three to four days.

Standing upright, Dai Fengping saluted and announced, "Reporting!"

"Speak."

Swiftly, Dai Fengping recounted how he met Jie Fangcheng in the wind field and how Jie single-handedly brought him out. He emphasized particularly that Jie was not a foe.

Especially pointing out that even when offered a mask, Jie declined.

After listening, Xu Yi remained silent, simply gazing at the figure of Jie Fangcheng.

Ordinary members like Dai Fengping might not be aware, but high-ranking officers like Xu Yi knew... Invaders had entered their world.

These invaders possessed extraordinary abilities and artifacts that defied scientific explanation.

Previously, these intruders had stealthily infiltrated Cangcui Island, sneaking in like thieves and trying to forge identities, hoping to seamlessly integrate with the residents.

However, these individuals are unaware that under the vigilant protection of the Angel's Eye, any anomaly on the island will be detected.

The crowd pretended ignorance, waiting for the opportune moment to discreetly detain these individuals.

This was the first time someone had made such a grand entrance; utterly unmasked and unabashed!

Ironically, with such a grandiose display, Xu Yi found himself uncertain about how to approach him.

Just then, Xu Yi's communicator lit up.

After accessing the communicator and reading the message, Xu Yi looked up in surprise at Xie Fangcheng.

“Xie Fangcheng?” questioned Xu Yi.

Xie Fangcheng paused, then nodded, "Yes."

Xu Yi gave a slight nod, and commanded, “Bind him.”

“Excuse me?” Xie Fangcheng hesitated.

They were all brethren facing the imminent collapse of their small world. Deep down, Xie Fangcheng personally didn't want to harm them.

Though the exact situation of this small world remains unclear, it's evident that its humans are striving to preserve their universe.

Given this, Xie Fangcheng's attitude towards them is very lenient.

But now that they intend to bind him, wouldn't it be inappropriate not to resist?

As Xie Fangcheng pondered this, he heard Xu Yi add, "Treat him with respect."

This contradictory command bewildered the soldiers following him. Four of them approached Xie Fangcheng, surrounding him. Their resolute faces turned to Xu Yi for guidance.

But these were the exact orders Xu Yi had received.

— Bind him, but do so gently.

The four soldiers exchanged glances. Finally, one produced electronic handcuffs, then courteously inquired of Xie Fangcheng, “May we?”

Such a surreal scene left Xie Fangcheng at a loss for words. But his nature was to reciprocate respect. Given their civility, he considered the handcuffs before him.

It's not that he looked down on high technology, but indeed such gadgets held little utility for him, easy to snap and break.

Consequently, Xie Fangcheng straightforwardly stretched out both hands, only to quickly retract them.

“Wait a moment!”

Xu Yi, on high alert, inquired cautiously, “What’s wrong?”

Xie Fangcheng pointed at the surrounding robots, "Given how dirty I am, could they give me a quick clean?"

“……”

.

After being cleaned, Xie Fangcheng donned the electronic handcuffs and was ushered into the city known as Verdant Isle.

From the outside, Verdant Isle seemed to be a magnificent high-tech city, but only upon entering did Xie Fangcheng realize that while there were areas showcasing advanced technology, there were glaring discrepancies.

The streets were lined with modest single-story houses, with the occasional two-story building, their outer walls bearing a dusty grey hue.

The roads were merely compacted dirt, far from the asphalt thoroughfares of modern cities.

Many parts looked rather outdated; for instance, the drab, muted colors of the attire worn by the city's inhabitants lacked the flair expected of a high-tech metropolis.

However, hovering cars occupied the sky, and the most common entities in the city weren’t humans, but bustling robots.

Xie Fangcheng even noticed that some individuals had limbs which were sophisticated machinery.

How peculiar, this juxtaposition of the high-tech and the not-so-high-tech.

As Xie Fangcheng was pondering this, his ears perked up.

— There was the sound of waves.

Given its name, "Verdant Isle", Xie Fangcheng had already anticipated that the surroundings might be maritime.

Yet, this was different… the roar of the waves was so overwhelming that he furrowed his brows momentarily.

What on earth? The noise was almost louder than a tsunami...

Suddenly, a piercing bell tolled throughout the city, followed by an announcement emanating from the Angel's Eye, resonating across the metropolis.

​1​

Almost immediately after the bell began ringing, the entire city's populace started moving in a coordinated and orderly manner.

Residents, dressed in diverse attire, led their children towards the safety zones in each district, while soldiers and officers, clad in protective gear similar to Han Ping, with face masks on, surged towards the city outskirts.

Hovercars continuously zipped overhead, lending a futuristic aura to the moment.

Xu Yi glanced at his communicator, and shortly after, he looked up.

“Take him to Inner City Cell No.1.” After a pause, Xu Yi added, “Treat him kindly.”

Xie Fangcheng couldn't help but find the situation both amusing and exasperating.

On one hand, they seemed polite, yet they were handcuffing him and intending to imprison him.

On the other hand, just look at the officer before him, always appending his orders with a gentle reminder, and even nodding courteously at Xie Fangcheng, saying, “Thank you for your cooperation.”

Thank you?

...Fine, then.

Four soldiers promptly hailed a hovercar, and courteously opened the door, saying, “Please.”

Xie Fangcheng: …

He had never encountered such an awkward situation.

Should he resist? It’s hard to retaliate against courtesy. Yet not resisting, this truly tested Xie Fangcheng’s patience more than ever.

Who had ever dared to detain him in the past?

“Alright, alright.” Resigned to the situation, Xie Fangcheng decided not to resist.

Accepting their invitation, he boarded the hovercar.

The hovercar quickly ascended, speeding towards the inner city.

It was only when airborne that Xie Fangcheng understood the origin of the roaring waves he'd heard.

“What's happening there?” Xie Fangcheng, pointing to the distant emerging hurricane and water wall, inquired.

The soldiers exchanged glances inside the vehicle. Finally, one began to explain, “The eclipse is nearing; that is... ‘The Grinder’.”

Verdant Isle is not an isolated island—or perhaps it is isolated, which is why it's called an "isle."

Verdant Isle is humanity's final stronghold on land, having been pushed back step by step until there was nowhere left to retreat. It serves as the last refuge and the sole base for all remaining humans.

Surrounded on three sides by the sea, its remaining flank faces an endless desert... though in truth, that desert was once a chain of towering mountains.

The initial choice to settle here was driven by the hope that these mountains would shield them from the dreaded "winds."

With the advent of the apocalypse, the terrestrial environment turned hostile, leading to mass deaths among fauna and flora, and vast forests withered away.

As humanity grappled intensely with these environmental issues, a new challenge arose seemingly overnight.

Initially, no one took those winds seriously. They were mere tornadoes, typhoons, or bracing spring breezes that felt cool against the skin.

With the environment growing more extreme, more pressing issues overshadowed any anomalous wind behavior.

It’s unclear when the winds that once merely ruffled rooftops evolved into cyclones as destructive as meat grinders. For many of the remaining humans, those were the only winds they had ever known.

There were no gentle breezes of spring or fall; winds became icy and frenzied, powerful enough to rend and obliterate an unprotected person.

These cyclones raged unchecked across the land, relentlessly driving humans towards Verdant Isle.

Initially, the mountains offered a buffer, granting the beleaguered humans a brief respite.

But none expected the winds to erode those majestic mountains so swiftly. The once-lofty peaks became deserts, and wherever the cyclones went, they obliterated all life in their path, blowing debris all the way to the sea.

Just like now—

Over the seas surrounding Verdant Isle on three sides, cyclones whipped up colossal waves that grew higher as time passed.

Countless mutated marine creatures were washed ashore. Soldiers guarding the Isle's perimeter engaged them with guns, repelling wave after wave of these invaders.

But soon, another wave would surge forward.

At the peak of the cyclone's power, waves would engulf Verdant Isle, casting it into total darkness. This phenomenon is called the "Eclipse."

Meanwhile, tornado-like cyclones would arise on the desert side.

These cyclones would whip up sand, turning even the smallest granules into razor-sharp blades. Even robust scorpions, once caught within, would be obliterated, reduced to mere dust in the wind. Hence, these tornadoes were also dubbed "Grinders."

By the time the Eclipse hits, human resistance against such force becomes futile.

"Thankfully, we have the Angel's Eye."

At this, a look of relief washed over the soldier's face.

He looked up reverently.

Jie Fangcheng followed suit, lifting his gaze.

The Angel's Eye hovered above Cangcui Island, watching over it like a literal eyeball.

An invisible protective barrier emanated from its pupil, encompassing the entire island.

"As long as the Angel's Eye remains open, Cangcui Island will stand."

Jie Fangcheng fell silent upon hearing this.

His mission was to take the "Angel's Eye"... yet it represented the last hope for the humans of this microcosm.

Still hopeful, Jie Fangcheng inquired, "How do these hurricanes form?"

Could there be some monstrous creatures behind them?

If that were the case, Jie Fangcheng could easily defeat such a creature, eliminating the need for Cangcui Island to rely on the Angel's Eye.

However, the soldier shook his head, “No, it's because of environmental changes. Eventually, not a single tree could be found on the entire continent, allowing the winds to blow unimpeded.”

At its core, it's the might of nature, not a specific monster or something that can be vanquished to alter the situation.

Jie Fangcheng became deeply troubled.

Although there's no time limit in the hunting ground, failing to complete the mission means one would remain trapped. At face value, it might seem better for players to retire in this microcosm.

But the reality is far more complex.

The micro-world instinctively rejects invaders. Players' strength would gradually wane within it, and with time, memories and personalities would erode.

Being in the micro-world for a short period might be inconsequential, as a player's inherent strength can resist the erosion. But in the long run, either the player dies as their strength diminishes, or their memories fade until they become assimilated.

Jie Fangcheng certainly can't linger in this micro-world indefinitely. He still needs to uncover the truth behind the game, the cause of Dongyue God's death, the identity of the killer who took Professor Zhang's life, how to save his micro-world... He has a lot on his plate.

Allowing him to take the Eye of the Angel and flee would be tantamount to directly hastening the destruction of this small world — a choice Xie Fangcheng could never make.

He pondered deeply and with evident distress all the way until he was taken to the prison.

The first cell of the inner city was reserved for high-profile prisoners, yet now it stood eerily vacant.

Upon his arrival at the prison, Xie Fangcheng was courteously admitted inside, only for the cell door to be unceremoniously locked behind him.

The four soldiers seemed to hold him in good regard.

After all, despite being handcuffed and imprisoned, he had been entirely cooperative.

As they were about to leave, one of the soldiers reassured him, "Rest assured, Commissioner Yan would never wrongfully accuse anyone."

"Commissioner Yan?"

At the mention of this name, an expression of deep respect came over the faces of all four soldiers.

"Yes. He's also a developer of the Eye of the Angel and is the most renowned scientist in this world."

Xie Fangcheng responded with admiration, "Wow, that's impressive. I'd love to meet him when I get out."

The soldiers exchanged glances, a hint of sadness visible in their eyes.

"Perhaps you'll get a chance."

Each of the four had their own duties. Having safely deposited Xie Fangcheng in his cell, they departed.

Xie Fangcheng sat in his cell, enveloped in boredom for a while.

The surroundings were silent, but Xie Fangcheng's heightened senses were always alert.

He could faintly hear the whisper of the wind mingling with the sound of waves, almost as if they were right above him.

"A meat grinder, perhaps?"

Hesitating momentarily, Xie Fangcheng thought, "I'm not trying to escape; I just want a peek outside. I'll be right back."

With that, he gently pushed the door, and to his surprise, it opened.

What he hadn't anticipated, however, was the door's alarm system.

As Xie Fangcheng pushed open the door, alarm bells resonated throughout the prison.

However, everyone else was occupied with their tasks, and given the prison's robust security, no guards were in immediate sight. Consequently, Xie Fangcheng walked through the corridor, piercing alarms in the background, without encountering a single soul.

Surely, one couldn't blame him then!

He leisurely stepped out of the prison and was immediately enveloped by darkness.

Although it was midday and had been brightly sunlit just moments ago, it now resembled dusk. Dark waves enveloped the landscape from three sides, so immense that even from the inner city, one could witness these colossal waves crashing against the protective barrier shielding the verdant island.

With every wave came aquatic creatures, and soldiers in protective gear continuously charged forward to combat these mutated beings.

If the three-sided onslaught of waves was terrifying, the remaining side presented an even graver threat.

Sandstorms.

It was hard to fathom the sheer volume of swirling sand, almost like another wave, lifted by tornadoes, relentlessly battering the protective membrane stemming from the Eye of the Angel.

The barrier appeared on the brink of rupture, yet miraculously remained intact.

Soon, as waves and mountains of sand intermingled in the wind, an eclipse set in.

Everything was plunged into darkness, the entire verdant island blanketed in this obscurity without a glint of light.

The sounds of battle ceased. The warriors no longer needed to fight; the "Meat Grinder" would take away all the entrapped mutated marine life.

Only the howling wind remained.

Whooo—whooo—whooo——

It was as if phantoms were wailing, as if the world itself was emitting its final cry.

This haunting wind persisted for over ten minutes before the first ray of sunlight pierced the gloom.

Within moments, systematic post-battle cleanup operations commenced across the verdant island.

Poisonous marine creatures were thrown back into the sea, while injured or fallen comrades were properly tended to. Although the barrier could fend off most of the waves and sand, it wasn't infallible.

The city walls needed repairs, and some residential areas within the verdant island, affected by the onslaught, also required mending.

Everyone must brace themselves and await the next eclipse.

Observing his surroundings, Xie Fangcheng saw ordinary residents gradually emerging from the safe zones. Their faces lacked the relief one might expect after such an ordeal. Having witnessed this scene numerous times, any sense of gratitude had waned.

Bathed in sunlight, Xie Fangcheng contemplated his next move, ultimately deciding to return to his cell.

This indeed was a... world on the brink of collapse.

The Verdant Isle was not expansive, its maximum capacity being no more than a hundred thousand inhabitants.

These hundred thousand represented the last remnants of intelligent life in this world.

Outside, the tempests had decimated all flora and fauna, confining humanity to this isolated patch of land.

It was a world devoid of hope. Everyone relied on the Eye of the Angel for survival, not knowing when it might fail and lead them all to their end.

Beyond the Eye of the Angel, no hospitable lands remained.

This was Xie Fangcheng's first time witnessing the disintegration of such a world firsthand.

Every world is governed by an entity similar to a "Heavenly Order". Though names might differ across worlds, this principle is foundational.

The "Heavenly Order" sets rules, such as "plants can satiate hunger," "animal meat can fulfill appetite," and "time is irreversible," among others. Only with the Order in place can various life forms coexist.

Xie Fangcheng was familiar with the ramifications of a compromised Order, reminiscent of the fate of Ru Nation.

A divine coalition once altered the "life and death rules" within Ru's borders. To restore and fill the gap left in the altered Order, Xie Fangcheng paid the ultimate price, leading to the annihilation of his divine essence.

The "Heavenly Order" of this world was now fractured, with the Eye of the Angel desperately upholding the last vestige of order... but its efforts seemed transient.

Xie Fangcheng couldn't help but sigh.

Was the collapse of a world truly irreversible?

As Xie Fangcheng sat in his cell, lost in thought, Xu Yi finally concluded his tasks.

Upon receiving a communication, he promptly made his way to the prison.

However, upon arrival, the sound of alarms greeted him, making his heart sink.

That Xie Fangcheng, who had appeared so compliant—what had transpired? Had he fled?

As Xu Yi pondered, he almost anticipated seeing an empty cell.

However, a few steps forward, he discerned a silhouette in Cell No. 1, a figure resembling Rodin's The Thinker, chin propped on a clenched fist, deep in contemplation.

Only when he heard footsteps did the man lift his gaze.

"Ah."

Xu Yi exhaled in relief, his peripheral vision catching the previously intact door lock, now damaged.

With only one person in the cell, it wasn't hard to guess who was responsible.

“……”

Was this guy cooperating or not?!

Xu Yi mentally grumbled.

Unperturbed, Xie Fangcheng inquired, "What will you do with me now?"

Xu Yi replied, "Commissioner Yan wishes to see you."