Chapter 327: Deathly Silence
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Upon witnessing Chen Fei’s actions, Liao Hanqin and the others couldn’t help but be puzzled. Why were they running away just as the city gate was about to open?
The city gate only opened once a month, and they had worked tirelessly to obtain this information. Despair City was too perilous, and if they didn’t leave tonight, they had no assurance they could hold out until the same day next month. Even lasting a few more days was a major concern, given the terrifying nightly patrols of Ghost Soldiers.
Wu Yongzhao furrowed his brows, considering various possibilities in his mind. He glanced at the city gate and, thinking of a potential scenario, his expression changed abruptly. He grabbed Jiang Ronghe, who was beside him, and disappeared from the spot.
Chen Fei’s departure had left Liao Hanqin confused, but Wu Yongzhao’s sudden exit made Liao Hanqin and Guo Shansheng from the Big Dipper Tower nervous.
Wu Yongzhao was still at the peak of his strength within Despair City, even furthering his cultivation. It was evident that he had substantial knowledge about this ghostly city, making his sudden departure a matter of concern.
Liao Hanqin could only stand here because of the formidable power of his high-grade spiritual sword; otherwise, he might have already perished here.
It could be said that Liao Hanqin had many unanswered questions about Despair City. Every move of others made him nervous, and the same went for Guo Shansheng of the Big Dipper Tower.
Liao Hanqin and Guo Shansheng exchanged glances. Despite their many uncertainties, they dared not stay here any longer. They promptly left the spot.
As for Wu Yongzhao from the Divine Flame Sect, they didn’t dare to chase after him. Therefore, their only choice was to pursue Chen Fei in the hope of understanding the situation here.
However, when they attempted to follow Chen Fei, they discovered that he had already disappeared without a trace.
Several miles away, Yu Zhongxin stood on a high vantage point, looking in the direction of the city gate. He was surprised to see several individuals disappearing one by one. Yu Zhongxin had initially expected these people to become sacrifices.
If these individuals died, it would greatly aid his escape from Despair City. Unexpectedly, as the time approached midnight, they had all left.
“Senior, what happened over there? Did the city gate open?” Jin Weiming cautiously asked from the side. Jin Weiming’s cultivation was insufficient, and from several miles away, in this pitch-black environment, he couldn’t see such a great distance.
“It’s almost time. We just need to wait a little longer,” Yu Zhongxin replied, his gaze slightly fluctuating, but his face displayed a friendly smile.
“I am truly fortunate to have your assistance, Senior. 1 will never forget this kindness,” Jin Weiming said with deep respect as he looked at Yu Zhongxin.
“In this city, we shall help each other; there’s no need to dwell on it,” Yu Zhongxin said casually, waving his hand.
“Senior, thank you for your kindness!” Jin Weiming bowed respectfully.
Yu Zhongxin’s lips curled into a slight smile, and with a wave of his arm, the two of them seemingly disappeared without moving a step, their auras vanishing in the blink of an eye.
If it weren’t for the fact that they were visible to the naked eye, one would almost think that they had already disappeared from that spot.
On the main street, Chen Fei, accompanied by Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang, ran back to the vicinity of the medical clinic at their maximum speed.
The chilling power within the city grew increasingly exaggerated. Even for Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang, both in the Aperture Tempering realm, resisting it had become quite difficult earlier, and now it seemed almost impossible.
In just a moment, this chill might infiltrate their bodies. However, they couldn’t risk displaying all their power to defend against it because they would be too conspicuous in this enigmatic city shrouded in darkness.
Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang looked somewhat puzzled as Chen Fei brought them back to the medical clinic. Nevertheless, they suppressed their doubts for now.
In their hearts, Chen Fei was undoubtedly the most trustworthy person at this moment. There had to be a reason for Chen Fei’s actions, and if they wanted to survive in this mysterious city, they had to stay close to him.
With little time left until midnight, Chen Fei couldn’t afford to delay. He activated the Slaughter Spirit Technique, and his arm transformed into a peerless weapon, sweeping towards Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang.
Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang were startled. Chen Fei’s arm felt terrifying to them, as if it could snatch their lives away instantly.
Ren Zhongyang’s body trembled momentarily but soon calmed down, a testament to his absolute trust in Chen Fei. On the other hand, Chi Shuqing’s eyes reflected inner conflict, but in the end, he did not evade Chen Fei’s attack.
“Tsk!”
It was as if something had been peeled away by Chen Fei’s arm. Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang felt a sudden chill, realizing their own breath had disappeared.
Chen Fei pulled their breath into the copper coins one by one. Within Chen Fei’s body, the phantom emerged, and he suppressed his own aura. Then, he merged his and the Rat Demon’s auras completely into the phantom. The phantom’s aura surged, and it seized two copper coins infused with the breath of Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang before vanishing from the spot.
Chen Fei’s phantom appeared in the dormitory of the medical clinic. It then sat cross-legged, eyes scanning the surroundings, waiting for the stroke of midnight.
Meanwhile, on the street, Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang had started to formulate some guesses, but many things remained unclear to them.
“We’ve left our auras in the medical clinic to attract the attention of the Ghost Soldiers,” Chen Fei explained as there was still some time left. He then grabbed their shoulders, bringing them to a secluded corner of the street. He placed the fragments of the Heart Pearl around them, trying to conceal any potential prying eyes.
“Why did we leave the city gate?” Chi Shuqing couldn’t help but ask, her mind filled with various doubts and a desire for answers.
“Our previous assumption might have been a bit off. While the city gate can lead us out of this enigmatic city, we can’t just stay there, waiting for it to open,” Chen Fei replied in a hushed tone.
“How do you mean?” Ren Zhongyang furrowed his brow.
“Because when midnight arrives, if we’re waiting at the city gate, we might have to face all the Ghost Soldiers before the gate even opens,” Chen Fei explained with a serious tone.
This was a possibility that had occurred to Chen Fei just recently. At midnight, the Ghost Soldiers would appear, and it was likely that the city gate would open simultaneously. While it seemed logical to wait at the city gate, it also meant confronting the Ghost Soldiers head-on.
Before, Chen Fei hadn’t considered this possibility. However, the absence of the Aperture Tempering realm expert had raised his suspicions.
Chen Fei began to connect the dots, recalling the events of the past few days and piecing together the mysteries. For example, he wondered why only Chi Shuqing had been attacked last night, while he and Ren Zhongyang had been unharmed.
It wasn’t because the Ghost Soldiers had shown mercy or feared him. It was simply because Chi Shuqing had not yet been marked by the Ghost Soldiers. This was due to Ghost Lady’s interference when she tried to claim Chi Shuqing for herself, and as a result, Chi Shuqing had narrowly escaped death when the Ghost Soldiers had attacked her last night.
They had been targeted by the Ghost Soldiers.
This was the information that the head of the medical clinic had revealed earlier when he tried to persuade Chen Fei to sign a contract. Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang had been targeted by the Ghost Soldiers, and while Chen Fei appeared unscathed, he was undoubtedly on the Ghost Soldiers’ radar as well. Why would they be targeted? It was undoubtedly to be targeted for future elimination.
When that elimination would occur, Chen Fei did not know. It might be tonight, or it might be in the coming days. However, the three of them could not afford to be discovered by the Ghost Soldiers if they wanted to escape from this Despair City. So, the three of them had vanished, thanks to their mastery of the Slaughter Spirit Technique, which allowed them to temporarily strip away their auras.
“So, what do we do now?” Chi Shuqing asked, her heart pounding at Chen Fei’s revelation. If they were to face all the Ghost Soldiers directly at the city gate as midnight approached, the horrifying scenario was enough to send shivers down her spine. There would be no chance of survival, and they would be completely overwhelmed by the overwhelming numbers of Ghost Soldiers.
“When the Ghost Soldiers appear, follow them closely and try to exit the city!” Chen Fei said with a serious tone.
Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang exchanged glances, suppressing the fear in their eyes. Following behind the Ghost Soldiers? It might not be directly confronting the Ghost Soldiers, but it seemed just as perilous!
As time flew by, the surrounding chilling force reached its peak, and midnight finally arrived.
“Hum!”
An inexplicable pressure suddenly descended, causing Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang to feel a sinking sensation in their hearts. A nameless fear welled up within them, as if a great catastrophe was about to unfold.
Chen Fei furrowed his brows as he also sensed this spiritual pressure. However, compared to Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang, Chen Fei’s stronger core soul energy allowed him to handle it better.
“Drip!”
A barely audible sound of footsteps echoed, seemingly distant yet remarkably clear in the ears of Chen Fei and the others. It felt as though these footsteps were treading on their hearts and even their skulls. The footsteps carried an inexplicable force that sent shivers through their bodies and minds.
Moreover, with the appearance of these footsteps, the already intense chilling force in the surroundings surged once more. Even with Chen Fei’s physique, he felt the strain of this enhanced cold.
As for Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang, they were directly invaded by this chilling force. Their faces instantly turned ashen, and a sense of deathly silence enveloped them.
This deathly silence continued to spread, and if not stopped, Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang might not even last a minute.
For accomplished cultivators like them in the Essence Forging Realm, they should have been able to resist such environmental challenges. However, the chilling force within this Despair City had reached an eerie level of potency. “Drip!”
Another set of footsteps echoed, causing Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang to tremble slightly, their faces growing even more lifeless. Chen Fei frowned, just about to use the copper coins to shield them when he suddenly had a subtle realization.
Even though Chi Shuqing and Ren Zhongyang were on the brink of succumbing to the chilling force, it was also because of this force that they blended more harmoniously into their current environment.
Previously, their auras had been temporarily severed and stored within the medical clinic, but the presence of two living individuals in this place had still been somewhat conspicuous. However, in this moment, their conspicuousness seemed to have vanished, as if they had become a natural part of their surroundings..