Chapter 131: The King's Sanction

A phrase drifted into Yang Yunfeng’s mind: Human Forbidden Zone!

Several other Crystal-Core-rank awakened ones were nearby, struggling desperately to resist.

"Water Prison!"

A female team member poured out all her remaining energy, triggering her ability. But she wasn't using it to fend off the zombies; she was encasing herself in it, for there were simply too many zombies surrounding them. Drenched in sweat, she grit her teeth, holding on with sheer willpower. That pale blue energy was the final trace of color she would leave in this world.

*Squelch!*

Suddenly, a black claw pierced through her chest, and warm blood splattered everywhere. The intense pain caused her to convulse, and the energy around her dissipated instantly. With a look of agonizing pain, she slowly turned her head and saw a pitch-black face staring at her viciously. It was the Shadow, Xiao Hei.

"Captain, save... save me!"

The female member let out a final, mournful cry. Yet, Luo Qian, standing ahead, merely glanced over her shoulder without paying her any mind. She swung her short blade, knocking back two zombies. Just because others couldn't escape didn't mean she lacked the opportunity. Luo Qian possessed body-part enhancement and the awakened ability "Flash Shadow Step," which prioritized speed above all else—a god-tier skill for survival in the apocalypse.

Her figure flickered as she stepped on the heads of several zombies, leaping directly onto the wall of a tall building and clinging to it like a spider. Looking back, she saw her companions about to be slaughtered to the last.

"I’m leaving now. You’ll have to hold the zombies off..."

With agile movements, Luo Qian leaped once more, vaulting onto the roof. Yang Yunfeng caught this out of the corner of his eye, his brows knitting deeply.

"She actually ran away..."

Still, it was human nature—standard procedure in the apocalypse. If he had that kind of ability, he would have run away long ago too. But when he looked in another direction, his face instantly filled with horror. Because... Lin Dong, who had previously been standing at the edge of the building, had vanished!

...

Luo Qian sprinted frantically between the high-rises, wanting only to leave this area immediately. No! She wanted to leave Jiangbei City! She would never come back here again... This place was nothing short of a living hell.

Just as she was thinking this, her body suddenly felt heavy. A massive pressure descended upon her, as if a mountain were crushing down from above. Her rapid movement screeched to a halt, and she stood frozen, unable to move a muscle.

"Oh no!"

This familiar sense of oppression told Luo Qian exactly what was happening. She looked ahead, and sure enough, a slender figure had appeared. That figure stood before her like a great mountain, an insurmountable chasm!

Lin Dong’s gaze was indifferent as he stared at Luo Qian. This human appeared righteous on the surface but was actually the most hypocritical of all; she had sold out her teammates to buy time, lured the zombies toward Yang Yunfeng, and told the others to fight to the death, only to run away herself.

Meeting Lin Dong’s gaze, the hair on Luo Qian’s body stood on end, and cold sweat streamed down her forehead. Her enhancement was specialized in speed, so her physique was not strong; she had no way to break through the blockade of this terrifying Corpse Domain.

"Spare... spare me, I can submit to you..." Luo Qian said, her lips trembling. Even at the very last moment, she refused to give up, trying every possible way to claw at a chance for survival.

Lin Dong’s lips curled slightly. "Your mission is already complete."

"Huh? What?" Luo Qian was bewildered. But in the next moment, Lin Dong was already standing right in front of her.

"Welcome to visit Jiangbei City again in your next life."

As he spoke, Lin Dong raised his hand in a slash. A long blade materialized, cleaving through Luo Qian’s jaw and up to her crown, spraying blood instantly. A soul crystal flew out as she fell. Hypocritical humans must be punished... A King’s Sanction!

Lin Dong waved his hand and collected her corpse. High atop the building, he noticed a surveillance drone buzzing not far away. Lin Dong stared at it; he didn't shoot it down, but instead, he waved at it...

...

At Tek Corporation, Ye Jian was still napping in his office when the rapid clacking of high heels echoed down the hallway. The female assistant didn't bother to knock, bursting straight into the room.

"Director Ye! Something terrible has happened!"

"Hmm?" Ye Jian was startled awake, stumbling as he sat up and rubbed his hazy, sleepy eyes. "What? Was the crystal core snatched by Luo Qian?"

"No, she’s dead!"

"What???" Ye Jian’s eyes widened, his head filled with confusion. What was going on? She was dead?

"See for yourself." The assistant tapped on her laptop, controlling the projection equipment to play the drone footage.

On the streets of Jiangbei City, countless zombies had emerged, pouncing on the people he had sent and tearing them apart on the ground. Several cyborgs had even been ripped to pieces, the scene incredibly brutal. The footage then cut to the roof of a high-rise.

There, a slender figure stood motionless, eyes fixed on the slaughter below as if everything were entirely under his control.

"Wait!" Ye Jian shouted immediately, his eyes locked on that figure, for it was all too familiar—it had become his nightmare. "Did I wake up too fast? Do I need to sleep more?"

"Director Ye, that Corpse King never died!" the assistant said in a low voice.

"That’s impossible..." Ye Jian pinched his thigh, realizing he hadn't woken up too fast, nor was he still dreaming.

"Didn't Luo Qian say she had finished him off?"

"The one she killed was a fake. Now, all the awakened ones you sent have been completely wiped out."

"..." Ye Jian fell into a sudden silence. He turned his gaze back to the surveillance footage, just in time to see Lin Dong finish off Luo Qian and then wave at him.

"Hiss..." Ye Jian took a long, sharp breath. He felt lightheaded, his vision darkening; the immense shock nearly caused him to faint on the spot.

Seeing him rolling his eyes, the assistant rushed forward, patting his back to help him catch his breath. "Director Ye! Director Ye! Are you alright?"

"Idiot... that idiot Luo Qian..." Ye Jian muttered continuously, no longer caring about his image. His mood was worse than if he had swallowed a hundred thousand flies.

Even if they couldn't defeat those zombies, they at least should have been evenly matched. Instead, they had just fed the enemy, putting him at a complete disadvantage.

"Luo Qian has negative combat value! This support I hired, I really... I really..." Ye Jian was left speechless, not knowing how to describe it. If he had known, he never would have sent them. This was a total loss!

After catching his breath, Ye Jian’s eyes burned with resentment. He dialed the satellite phone to contact Liu Baiyue, intending to hold her accountable. After a few rings, the call was answered.

Ye Jian roared the moment the line opened. "Liu Baiyue, look at the mess your subordinates have caused!"

"What is it, Director Ye? Why so much anger?" Liu Baiyue asked in a lazy tone.

Hearing her nonchalant voice made Ye Jian’s blood boil. "The subordinates you sent are a disaster! You've caused me heavy losses. Liu Baiyue, I'm asking you, are you going to take responsibility for this?"