The Ancient Gods' Whisper

For example, almost everyone living here has had their room door knocked on by several groups of people.

Some handed out small cards, others asked for money, and some invited them to wild bars.

It goes without saying how chaotic Black Cloud City is.

Gu Jianlin never opened his door, as if his room were entirely unoccupied.

At lunchtime, Yan Ye even created a small group chat via the Deep Space Network. Most people joined his chat group, remaining on voice call for twenty-four hours to prepare for emergencies.

Notably, Yan Feng brought food and fruit to knock on the door of the room at the end of the corridor.

He shouted for a long time, but no one came to open the door.

By evening, he even brought food again and said something at the door.

Gu Jianlin, in the adjacent room, heard it all clearly—words of concern and care, spoken with genuine compassion.

"It seems Yan Feng has feelings for Thunder."

Gu Jianlin shook his head. That Thunder didn't look like someone easy to pursue.

There's no house for the lovesick, after all.

Gu Jianlin didn't eat lunch, nor dinner. He only kept eating candy, constantly utilizing his Life Perception, which extended over 100 meters, to monitor movements in the neighborhood and remain alert.

As for those people in the neighboring rooms, they acted like bored hangers-on after completing a dangerous transaction involving Taboo Items.

Their conversations were superficial, filled with meaningless chatter, revealing nothing substantial.

Everyone huddled together, as though it gave an illusion of safety.

Gu Jianlin silently counted time in his mind.

Because he knew this operation was far from flawless.

There existed a massive oversight.

And that was the leak of information.

·

·

Top floor of the Deep Space Technology Building.

Lu Zijin stood with her arms crossed, positioned behind the glass curtain wall, gazing at the brightly illuminated city engulfed in the night.

Her eyes were fixed on the direction of the East Coast, glinting with sly amusement.

"Isn't this act getting a bit excessive?"

Chen Bojun was smoking on the sofa, plumes of smoke curling upwards.

"What's excessive? We weren't exactly fledgling chicks hiding under the captains' protection back in the day. Besides, they're about to head into the Qilin Immortal Palace. If we don't push them harshly now, they'll be marching toward their doom anyway."

Lu Zijin let out a cold laugh. "I hope the traitors within the association don't disappoint me."

Chen Bojun chuckled faintly.

The Ether Association, a global organization of Ascenders, had an enormous number of members.

High-level betrayals and member instability were nothing new.

In such cases, there wasn't much you could do about it.

Ascenders are prone to losing control—a hard truth and an unsolvable problem.

All you can do is investigate, again and again.

Kill, again and again.

"But the problem is, most of these people are just kids."

Chen Bojun leaned back, hands supporting his head, cigarette clenched between his fingers. "Is this really not too much?"

Lu Zijin replied indifferently, "In the world of the Transcendent, there's no distinction between adults and children. Most of them represent family interests. If their families have chosen to send them out, they must be prepared to face the consequences. After all, on the battlefield, do you expect me to play house with them?"

"Fair point. Whoever desires something must bear its weight."

Chen Bojun added, "It's their own choice."

"By this time, the Fallen should be about to start as well."

Lu Zijin glanced at her phone display. "To them, the captains and their teams are nothing but naive, bloodless, foolish Law Enforcers, aren't they?"

"No wonder you insisted my brother postpone the next collective detection. Turns out it was to let those traitors leak the ambush plan. But if you ask me, the newbies in your Peak City District batch mostly don't make the cut."

Chen Bojun inhaled deeply before speaking: "Only a few have decent potential."

Lu Zijin narrowed her eyes: "I want absolute elites. Otherwise, when the Qilin Immortal Palace opens, they won't stand a chance—not against the monsters of the Ancient God Clan, nor against the newcomers of other districts."

She paused. "Taixu, report current status."

The maid-like figure of Taixu appeared, her voice soft yet captivating. "Heart rate analysis as follows... Among the seventeen-member rookie squad, eight are in deep sleep, six in light sleep."

Chen Bojun raised his eyebrows upon hearing this.

Lu Zijin smirked faintly. "Heh, who are the three still awake?"

Taixu answered, "C-level investigator Yan Ye, B-level investigator Tang Ling, D-level investigator Gu Jianlin."

Lu Zijin nodded with some satisfaction.

"Interesting."

Chen Bojun asked, "What are they doing respectively?"

Taixu gently replied, "Based on phone monitoring, Yan Ye is keeping watch for his team."

She paused. "Tang Ling… is sharpening her sword."

"Still somewhat alert."

Chen Bojun pressed further: "What about Gu Jianlin?"

Taixu hesitated slightly.

"Gu Jianlin is hiding by the door, seemingly preparing to ambush someone."

At that moment, Chen Bojun froze. "How did he realize it?"

"What did you think he relied on to kill the Joker?"

Lu Zijin's voice carried a mischievous tone. "The show is about to start. Let some captains die first."

·

·

In the dead of night, Gu Jianlin stood behind the door, clutching a dagger in his hand.

He held his breath.

Heartbeat faint.

Like a ghost that didn't exist, lurking in the shadows.

Because moments ago, his Life Perception detected two separate groups converging into two different inns.

At this very moment, those twisted and bizarre life rhythms were closing in.

The Fallen!