The control center of the Fallen Expanse of the Founders…
The statistical results had left everyone in dismay. The Dark Spiritualists, along with the traitor from the Annihilation Universe, had absconded with nearly half of the prizes in this region. Though such things were not all that important to Annihilator tier experts, this was nevertheless a development that could bring forth earthshaking changes to Alpha Universe, considering their dearth of Soul Weapons.
Heaving a long sigh, Patriarch Roderick got up and solemnly addressed everyone present, “What are you all still being stunned for? Head on back! In any case, what happened has already happened, so I believe the Alliance will come up with a strategy for this.”
Soza was silent for a moment, but soon asked hurriedly, “Are we just going to watch as these Dark Spiritualists make off with the treasures we prepared for the Lower Five Stars? We ought to teach them a lesson, shouldn’t we?”
Roderick let out a bitter chuckle, “Teach them a lesson? Honestly, we ought to be punishing the one who secretly betrayed the Annihilation Universe, and us as well! Those Dark Spiritualists were no more than pawns. If I’m not mistaken, there must be someone among the Annihilators who wishes to make a mockery of us. It’s too bad that we trusted this system too much, after having been ruined by someone else’s hand but having no counter-strategy for it.”
The experts around shook their heads. What Roderick said was not wrong. The situation was hardly as simple as it looked on the surface. While it was a group of Dark Spiritualists that had stolen from the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders, it was really in fact an internal conflict within the Annihilation Universe. Instead of directing their efforts toward the Lower Five Stars, they were better off coming up with solutions to deal with the coming storm in Annihilation.
Roderick believed that this was all just the beginning. Their enemy was testing the strength and reactions of the New Hero Alliance, and if they were not careful, the other party might very well attempt something on a larger scale next time.
Beckoning with one finger, Roderick made a surreptitious motion for Soza to stay. Soza was very puzzled deep down, but he did not ask any more questions, and just pretended that he was collecting his things.
Since the person in charge had ordered them to disperse, the warriors swiftly returned to Annihilation. The only ones left in the control center were Roderick, Soza, as well as the two who were monitoring the place, the White Beard and No Beard.
“Both of you, remove yourselves. Don’t come back in without my permission,” Roderick ordered in a heavy voice.
White Beard and No Beard hurried out like they had just received a pardon. After all, Roderick was the Blue Bloods’ Zadin Clan Patriarch, and they were just some insignificant soldiers sent to monitor the system. The difference in status was tremendous!
Waving Zadin to take a seat, Roderick began, “The higher-ups will have countermeasures, but we Blue Bloods have to make preparations on our end, as well. I think we should let the one called Xia Fei loose down there.”
Soza frowned, “You mean to say that we should make Xia Fei our new mole?”
“That’s right,” Roderick agreed. “I’ve met the person you’ve chosen myself, and he’s very decent. A man with means, sufficiently vicious, and clever, too. If I’m not wrong, given the skeptical nature of those above, no one outstanding from this Collapsed Expanse of the Founder will be sent up unless they can clear them of suspicion. Xia Fei might not have the opportunity to go to Annihilation, so we might as well make use of him while he stays in the Lower Five Stars.”
Soza nodded, “That’s true. There will be a mess of suspicion from those above. The Annihilation Universe will surely be thrown into a storm now. There’s no telling just how many will have been implicated. Bringing Xia Fei up now is definitely not a good idea…”
…
The strange going-ons in the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders had brought about a series of chain reactions. While Xia Fei and the others welcomed this long absence of peace, and Fuchen was making a steady recovery, Radix and Nirvana had also returned. Even Xia Fei had a rare moment, since he was not completely embroiled in the troubles of the place. Could his fate of always getting into trouble be changing for the better?
Time passed and they were soon in their third day of isolation. Fuchen could already stand up on his own and move, and was currently taking a stroll while supporting the old man. That was when a flash of light appeared, and Soza appeared nearby.
He was acting all secretive as he called Xia Fei to one side, and proceeded to whisper a few words to him. Since he was an Annihilator, no one could hear a word between the conversation he had with Xia Fei, despite being in close proximity to the others.
The more precautions he took, the more interested the others became in this interaction. Everyone’s attention was fixed on the two.
Smiling, Xia Fei said, “What you’re asking for isn’t a big deal. You want me to inform you of whatever happens in the Lower Five Stars, and if I am given the chance, find out who these Dark Spiritualists have been in contact with, right?”
Soza nodded.
Xia Fei chuckled, “I’m not the sort to deal in matters not grounded in reality. Since you’re asking for my help, it’s easy. Give it here.”
With that, Xia Fei reached out one hand and beckoned to Soza twice.
Soza was shocked, “What do you mean by that?”
“Remuneration, of course,” Xia Fei said matter-of-factly. “I’m not in the habit of giving out help for free, and since you want me to be your eyes, you have to pay me for my services, right?”
*Cough*
Soza nearly spat blood. Xia Fei was just a warrior from the Lower Five Stars, yet he actually had the audacity to discuss conditions?! Normally, an expert merely had to wave his arm and plenty of people would compete to work hard at his behest. After all, Soza and those of his people were very powerful in the Annihilation Universe, and being able to befriend them was definitely not a bad thing for Xia Fei.
Unfortunately, Xia Fei did not share this thinking. A yard was a yard, and becoming an Devil Shadow Dragoon was something that he had staked his life to attain. He did not depend on anyone’s help or sympathy getting there. By that logic, since the Blue Bloods wanted his help with the Lower Five Stars, he ought to be paid. That was just the way business worked.
Soza watched as the corner of Xia Fei’s lips curled at a strange angle. Xia Fei said in a low voice, “I don’t wish to cause you trouble, but you’ve said so yourself: you’ve lost well over half of the equipment stored here in the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders, and no one will miss anything if you lose a bit more things, given how chaotic the situation already is. We can just put it all on those Dark Spiritualists’ heads, and let them be the scapegoat. Don’t you think that makes sense?”
Soza blinked and replied slyly, “You’re definitely not causing me trouble, but you’re looting a house while it’s on fire!”
Xia Fei actually thought Soza was praising him, so he nodded, “Heh, well I do indeed enjoy looting a house while it’s on fire.”
…
Xia Fei had never been a righteous gentleman, and in his eyes, not choosing to profit off someone when given the chance was the definition of stupidity. Soza had wasted a lot of time before he finally understood what Xia Fei was getting at, and after careful consideration, he realized there was no flaw in his words. It was just that Soza had a hard time wrapping his head around how unreasonable it was to only care about his own profit at such a time, and not about finding the real culprit behind this mess.
He hesitantly brought Xia Fei around the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders. Xia Fei collected all the Soul Weapons he set eyes on along the way and stuffed them into his spatial ring, without sparing them another glance.There was a lack of Soul Weapons in this day and age, and Xia Fei had already made the decision to use this opportunity to help prepare weapons for his comrades in the Law Realm.
Though Ulan, Fuchen, and himself were Spiritualists, they would only tire themselves to death if they were to try and equip the entire Law Realm just themselves. As such, he figured the solution was taking advantage of this round while the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders was a mess. The Law Realm had just joined the Alpha Universe, and had yet to solidify their foothold in the place. This bunch of Soul Weapons were simply too important to everyone!
…
They returned to the meeting point, Xia Fei having already filled his ring to the brim. The exact number was uncertain, but it was definitely by no means small. Unfortunately, Soza did not like how Xia Fei did things, and so Xia Fei did not manage to get any high-grade Soul Weapons. Fortunately, because the Law Realm had just joined Alpha, their requirements were not as great when it came to high grade Soul Weapons. It was fine as long as there were enough!
Nodding, Soza turned to leave, even as Xia Guanghai and the others came crowding around curiously.
“Why did that blue-skinned person come and leave so mysteriously? Where did he bring you to just now?” Oro asked.
Xia Fei could not help but burst into laughter, “It’s nothing bad. It’s time, and the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders has completely opened up. Let’s get out of here, too.”
With that, Xia Fei took out the remote that Soza had given him and pressed the only button on it.
*Swoosh*
Having already been preset, Xia Fei and everyone appeared beside the Silver Specter. Xia Fei waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to get onboard.
As there was not even a trace of any humans around them, Anzu Night frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy.
That was when Xia Fei said while staring out into the distance, “Stop looking. You’ll understand once we get out of here.”
*Whoosh!*
Silver Specter sped off toward the entrance to the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders.
By all right this should have been a very busy place when the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders was about to close. Warships there to pick up or who had originally entered this place should all have been gathered right outside. Those who managed to benefit from this foray would be laughing and bragging about what they had plundered, while the clans who had lost their clansmen would be crying their hearts out at their tragic fate.
But right now, silence pervaded the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders. Only after they had reached the entrance did they see a scattering of warships far away. As they slowly drew closer to the entrance, Xia Fei narrowed his eyes and the expression on his face turned severe.
“Why are there so few people here?” Anzu asked.
“The world has changed,” Xia Fei answered vaguely.
Anzu did not care to probe further, as the scene right in front of his eyes stunned everyone!
Widespread wreckage!
Countless wrecks were floating by the entrance, as if there had been a catastrophic battle!
These warships were all the troops that the major clans had sent, yet now they had all been annihilated! Not only were those warriors who had entered the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders obliterated, even the commoners suffered the same fate!
“What happened here?! What exactly happened? WHO DID THIS?!” Anzu Night asked in a rising voice.
Everyone turned their gazes toward Xia Fei, because he was the only one among them who knew what was going on.
Swallowing hard, Xia Fei solemnly explained, “Three days ago, about two hours after our fight with the Dark Spiritualists, those same evildoers forced their way out of the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders. Those troops that were waiting for their kin outside ended up on the receiving end of the Dark Spiritualists’ assault.”
Zesyr Night tugged on Xia Fei and asked, “Then what about the guards from my clan? My clan sent quite a lot of people here. Are they also…”
Xia Fei shook his head, “I don’t know. I think it would be hard for them to still be alive.”
That was when everyone understood. While they had been sealed in the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders, an earth-shaking change had already occurred outside! The Dark Spiritualists had made a forceful comeback!
It was not just Xia Fei. Every warrior that had managed to leave the Collapsed Expanse of the Founders was deeply shocked by the scene that unfolded before their eyes. Normally, warriors would fight against warriors, but these Dark Spiritualists had also massacred the commoners, and they all could not help but feel indignant resentment building inside them.
Xia Fei did not say another word, turning on the warship’s network connection. They were able to connect to the Alpha Universe’s news network here, and reading the news was the fastest way to learn what had happened.
*Bzzt*
The screen appeared, and the first headline that grabbed his attention was big and red.
The reappearance of the Dark Spiritualists, the major Spiritualist sect Purple Jade, bathed in blood!
