Otherworldly Affairs Office

Just as Pei Yan was perplexed, the situation in the pond changed again. The colleagues from the investigative bureau had just retreated to the shore, and those thirty-some people from the Daoist Plane who had previously burst from the cracks also fought and withdrew to the pond's edge.

These individuals seemed to have no intention to linger in battle; once they escaped the attacks of the strange entity, they were desperate to flee and run out of this Chaotic Scene. However, as soon as they touched the mist surrounding the pond, they were stopped by an invisible wall blocking their way.

After several failed attempts, this group of people cast a venomous glance at Pei Yan and others before reluctantly regrouping in another corner of the pond, while guarding against the mysterious figure in the pond and watching the investigative bureau personnel for any opportunity to act.

Meanwhile, after noticing that everyone was stationary, the strange entity in the pond ceased its pursuit and stood there motionless, dumbfounded. From time to time, another strange figure would jump from a light screen; when the number of figures on the icy surface reached twenty-four, the water beneath the huge icy hole started to churn. The entity that had previously battled Pei Yan in the water finally broke free, leaping onto the ice.

The creature stared with blank, pale eyes, scanning back and forth, and upon seeing Pei Yan on the bank, without opening its stitched-up mouth, its throat and belly bulged rhythmically, emitting noises akin to frog croaks but much more piercing and offensive.

Subsequently, its arms stretched out, claws flailing, ready to charge forward. Upon seeing this, Pei Yan and his team instantly prepared to engage. Just as the creature took a step forward, another nearby entity extended its arm to halt it. After a gibberish exchange between the two creatures, the furious entity surprisingly relented and returned to the crowd, motionless, but its bulging, dead-like eyes continued to fixate menacingly on Pei Yan.

Pei Yan dismissed this indifferently, flipping the creature off with two fingers, then gradually moved closer to Ye Jiumu and softly asked, "What are these things? Have you seen them before? The interpreter didn't translate what they were saying just now!"

"It's normal that the interpreter didn't translate it, because this is the first time we've encountered these monsters! Damn it, this is insane!" Ye Jiumu rubbed his swollen cheek, spat out blood furiously, having taken a few hits from three creatures moments ago. Their sharp fingertips had directly disfigured him, though the wounds were gradually healing, the swelling wouldn't subside anytime soon.

Beside him, Wang Wenze pulled out a cigarette and tossed it into his mouth, turning his head to Shangxing with a question, "Boss, what are we going to do?"

It was only then that Pei Yan noticed this colleague with whom he had spent the most time in the investigative bureau. He hadn't dared approach him when they first landed ashore.

This person, who was once seen by Pei Yan as a decent guy, a warm man, a team adhesive, now had short hair standing on end and a face almost fully covered with tattoos—a clawing scorpion on the right cheek, a howling wolf's head on the left cheek. The wolf's eye tattoo coincidentally lined up with his left eye, creating the illusion of a living wolf head ready to attack, baring its fierce teeth.

Baring his upper torso, which once appeared thin and weak, now exhibited rippling muscles, with an eight-pack abs that inflated with his breathing, his entire upper body and arms were densely covered in various tattoos.

If it had been Pei Yan's previous self, encountering Wang Wenze in such a state in the bathhouse, he likely wouldn't dare share a bath with him. But standing beside Wang Wenze, Liang Qian looked at him with shining eyes, a look of infatuation and admiration, pulling a lighter from her ring and silently igniting the cigarette in Wang Wenze's mouth which exuded a societal flair.

Hmm… what kind of women are around me! Who would have thought that this usually quiet girl had such strong tastes.

"Regardless of what these creatures are, judging by their previous ferosity, we cannot let them escape this cage at any cost, even one escaping would have unimaginable consequences."

Shangxing's assertive words pulled Pei Yan away from his errant thoughts, realizing the captain was right. Reflecting on the peaceful Jiangnan Town passed by earlier today, allowing even one of these monsters to escape!

Pei Yan clenched his fists, genuinely feeling the weight on his shoulders for the first time, realizing he was now fighting not just for himself. This thought sent passion surging through his body, filling him with strength.

Yet, before his passion could last long, Shangxing's next words came as a cold splash of water on his enthusiasm.

"Pei Yan, during the battle, you'll be responsible for remote support! Don't approach the frontlines and….," Shangxing paused, glancing at a laptop suspended above the pond's edge, "...keep communication with the headquarters and await support!"

"But, captain….!" Pei Yan protested upon hearing this.

Shangxing abruptly turned, resolutely commanding, "No buts. It's an order! If you disobey this time, I'll propose permanently revoking your task participation eligibility after this!"

"Yes!" Pei Yan replied, eyes red with frustration, lowering his head as he retreated to the floating laptop, extending his left hand to connect with the laptop, starting to charge the battery that was running low.

Xia Yu noticed that the strange entities on the icy surface remained inactive, exchanged a glance with Shangxing, then approached Pei Yan to comfort him, "Don't be upset, the captain has his reasons for not letting you go."

"But surely everyone is fighting, and I'm just here acting as a charger! Then what am I even doing here!"

Xia Yu patted Pei Yan's shoulder, "Based on the skirmish just now, although the monsters didn't use any magic, their sheer physical power and defense array was far superior to what is typical for cultivators in the Three Corpses Slaying Realm. Given your current combat ability, it would be difficult to inflict substantial damage on them."

"Are you saying they possess the capabilities of a tier three Awakened?" Pei Yan asked in surprise. As he came, he was not completely unprepared; despite the differences between the planes and his world, there were historic exchanges and influences over the centuries, thus some cultivation terms still exist in present-day writings. The Three Corpses Slaying refers to cutting above the corpse insect named Penghou, middle corpse insect named Peng Zhi, and lower corpse insect named Peng Jiao. According to Wang Wenze's explanation, only reaching such a realm in the Daoist Realm constitutes truly stepping into the path of immortality.

Xia Yu shook his head in denial, "No, our ability users hold significant advantage against cultivators during early stages. Typically, cultivators who have cut all three corpses are equivalent to tier two Awakened ordinary ability users, whereas these creatures, merely strong physically and with defense array reaching the Three Corpses Slaying Realm, might be rated even lower. But if they could exhibit magic, then that's another matter altogether."