Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 574 The End
The gray barrier, like a giant cage, completely isolates a corner of the abandoned industrial area from the outside world.

Inside the barrier, the battle erupted instantly, but strangely split into two battlefields.

Below, dozens of cultists dressed in gray robes with fanatical eyes poured out from all over the ruins and rushed towards the two team members brought by Liu Ruyan.

They were surrounded by profound true qi, far surpassing that of their peers, obtained through the "Northern Darkness Qi Absorption Technique." Various sinister spells, including corrosive black water arrows, mind-altering wailing soul howls, and ghostly claws condensing death energy, rained down on the specially made black SUVs present like a storm.

However, Liu Ruyan had already anticipated the possibility of an ambush.

Intricate runes instantly lit up the vehicle's surface, and a solid energy shield steadily opened, blocking most of the attacks.

Using vehicles as cover, the team members fired precise shots with their standard psionic firearms.

These cultists, though physically strong, lacked physical skills and combat coordination. Instead of charging forward, they remained at a distance, entangled with their teammates. Although the situation was perilous, their lives were not in immediate danger.

The real danger lies in the air!

Liu Ruyan had already abandoned the car and stepped out, her body engulfed in raging black flames, like a war god emerging from the darkness.

She fought against three opponents single-handedly: Zhang Yunze, Lou Shenghua, and Qin Keqing!

The battle was extremely intense.

Lou Shenghua roared repeatedly, pushing his body cultivation technique to its limit. His body swelled up like a small giant, and runes flickered on his bronze skin. Every punch and kick carried the power to shatter mountains and split rocks, attempting to forcibly tear apart Liu Ruyan's defenses.

Zhang Yunze transformed into a sword light, agile and unpredictable. His emerald green flying sword, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, never clashed head-on with the black flames, always seeking the most cunning angles to try and pierce through the gaps in Liu Ruyan's spiritual power circulation, or to harass her vital points.

Qin Keqing's figure flickered, constantly casting illusions and mental attacks. Countless phantoms, indistinguishable from the real ones, flashed and howled around Liu Ruyan, attempting to interfere with her judgment and undermine her will.

The three of them worked together seamlessly!
The fist wind, sword light, and phantom arrived almost simultaneously, sealing off all of Liu Ruyan's space to dodge!

However, Liu Ruyan's performance was nothing short of terrifying!
The black flame longsword in her hand had already materialized, becoming an impenetrable black barrier as she wielded it. Lou Shenghua's fierce fist struck the black flames, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea; instead, his fist was scorched black, and he roared in pain as he retreated.

Every time Zhang Yunze's vicious flying sword launched a sneak attack, it was precisely intercepted and deflected by the black flames that rose at just the right moment, producing a sickeningly metallic clang.

Qin Keqing's illusions and mental attacks had little effect on Liu Ruyan's will, which had been tempered by black flames and was as firm as a rock.
Not only was her defense impeccable, but her attacks were also incredibly fierce!
Despite being harassed by Zhang Yunze's flying sword and disturbed by Qin Keqing's illusions, the Black Flame Longsword relentlessly slashed and hacked at Lou Shenghua, forcing the body cultivator to defend himself in a sorry state. The runes on his body flickered on and off, and blood was already spilling from the corner of his mouth.

Occasionally, he would counterattack with a slash, the blazing black flames of his blade swelling ten feet, forcing Zhang Yunze to dodge rapidly, his sword light scattering.

She single-handedly overpowered three people!
Where the black flames passed, they burned everything in their path, displaying unparalleled dominance!

"Damn it! This woman's black flames are too troublesome!"

Lou Shenghua coughed up blood and roared in anger, his proud defenses being constantly eroded by the black flames.

"Men in black! Make your move!!"

Zhang Yunze was also anxious. The spiritual light of his flying sword had dimmed, and if he continued to fight, it might be damaged.

The black-robed figure, who had been hovering in the air maintaining the barrier, flickered his eyes beneath his hood.

Just as Zhang Yunze and Lou Shenghua were becoming increasingly agitated due to their prolonged siege and called out to the man in black for help!
A sudden change occurred!

Qin Keqing, who had been fighting on the sidelines, suddenly had a ruthless and fanatical look in her eyes, as if her scheme had succeeded. Instead of joining the attack, she retreated rapidly like a ghost!

This retreat perfectly exposed Zhang Yunze and Lou Shenghua, who had been slightly pushed forward due to exhaustion from the long battle, to Liu Ruyan!

With her extensive combat experience, how could Liu Ruyan possibly miss such a golden opportunity?

Although she was also puzzled by Qin Keqing's actions, killing the enemy was the priority!
"Black Flame - Breaking Army!"

Black flames surged from the longsword in his hand, transforming into a destructive spiral shockwave that slammed directly into the two who had lost their cover!

"Do not!!!"

"Qin Keqing, you—!"

Zhang Yunze and Lou Shenghua were both terrified, filled with shock and anger, and desperately activated all their spiritual power to defend themselves!
boom--! ! !
A terrifying explosion rang out!
The protective magical artifacts on the two shattered instantly, blood gushed out, and they flew backward like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily into the barrier's light wall. Their bones were broken, their internal organs shattered, and they had suffered severe injuries, losing their ability to fight.

They fell to the ground, staring incredulously at Qin Keqing, who had suddenly turned against them, their eyes filled with endless anger, fear, and despair!

At that very moment, the black-robed figure in the sky moved!
His hand seals suddenly changed, and the entire Northern Darkness Barrier emitted a heart-palpitating buzzing sound, its light changing from dim gray to a dark red that devoured all light!

"Northern Netherworld Sacrifice - Devouring the Heavens!"

The black-robed man's cold voice echoed throughout the barrier.

Zhang Yunze and Lou Shenghua, lying on the ground, let out extremely shrill screams. The essence and blood in their bodies burst out uncontrollably, turning into two thick pillars of blood, which were greedily absorbed by the barrier! In just a moment, the two Qi Refining experts were drained into dried-up corpses, their eyes wide open in death!

The barrier, having absorbed all the essence and blood of two Qi Refining masters, underwent a dramatic change in form!
It is no longer a simple cover, but twists and wriggles, transforming into a huge mouth that blots out the sky and is covered with bizarre spirals!

A terrifying suction force emanated from it, as if it wanted to devour all living beings, spiritual energy, and even light within the barrier!
Liu Ruyan let out a muffled groan, the black flames around her flickering unpredictably as they were pulled apart by the terrifying suction force. She plunged her longsword into the ground, desperately resisting the devouring power, her expression extremely grave. This was her opponent's true killing move!
"It's now!"

At the critical moment, a clear shout, like a thunderclap from the heavens, pierced through the barrier!
A dazzling starlight, like a spear of judgment, descended from the sky and struck the enormous "mouth" with devastating force!

Boom——! ! !
A terrifying explosion occurred that defies description!

The Northern Darkness Barrier, which devoured everything, shattered like an egg being smashed by a hammer before the giant starlight bomb that condensed a massive amount of heaven and earth energy!

Starlight and dark red evil energy intertwined and annihilated wildly, bursting forth with light that could blind people and a deafening roar!

The shockwave ripped away all the rubble and debris on the ground, turning them into dust!
Once the dust had settled, the barrier had vanished without a trace.

The scene was a mess, with only the specially made off-road vehicle, the barely holding on Liu Ruyan, and the mummified corpses of cult members and Zhang and Lou scattered on the ground.

The figure of the black-robed man became illusory the moment the barrier shattered. Without hesitation, he sacrificed the life force of all the believers present, turning into a streak of blood-red light and fleeing into the distance at an incredible speed, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Qin Keqing, having betrayed the barrier and standing a little further away, was not its primary target and was only injured by the aftershocks of the explosion, collapsing to the ground.

She watched as the man in black abandoned her without hesitation and fled. Seeing the horrific scene, her face was filled with shock, fear, and despair at the failure of her plan and the complete abandonment she had been given.

"No...it's impossible...how could this be...Master...!"

She muttered to herself, lost in thought.

Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, suppressing her surging blood and qi, and walked up to Qin Keqing, her eyes as cold as ice.

Qin Keqing suddenly looked up, her face filled with twisted jealousy and resentment, and screamed.

"Liu Ruyan! You hypocritical woman! Can't you just follow the rules properly? Stop pretending to be so high and mighty! You…"

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Ruyan suddenly raised her foot, the sole of her military boot carrying a chilling force and a trace of lingering black flame, and kicked Qin Keqing precisely in the mouth!
"Pfft—Crack!"

A sickening cracking sound rang out, and Qin Keqing spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with her teeth. Her subsequent curses turned into painful whimpers, her eyes rolled back, and she completely fainted.

Just then, a clear clapping sound came from the side.

The special envoy had arrived at some point and was standing not far away with an appreciative smile on his face, as if the thrilling battle just now was merely a wonderful performance.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" The special envoy walked over, his gaze first falling on Liu Ruyan.

"Director Liu is indeed worthy of his reputation; the power of the Black Flame is truly awe-inspiring."

Then, he looked at Li Zhongren, who had just descended from the sky and whose starlight was slowly receding.

"This must be the 'Starlight Man'? His ability to gather the energy of heaven and earth to break the deadlock in one strike is truly a sight to behold."

Li Zhongren nodded slightly in response.

The special envoy took out a special document with an antique design and imperial emblem from his pocket and solemnly handed it to Li Zhongren.

"In view of Mr. Li’s formidable strength and commitment to maintaining imperial order in this incident, and upon the recommendation of Director Liu, I hereby formally appoint Mr. Li as ‘Foreign Affairs Attendant’ on behalf of the Special Operations Bureau of the Great Xia Empire."

The special envoy's voice was clear.

"This identity grants you Level 2 Imperial privileges, allowing you to access some classified intelligence, allocate certain resources, and enjoy corresponding allowances and legal privileges. Of course, the Empire may entrust you with some 'special' matters when necessary. Director Liu will discuss the specific details with you. What do you think, Mr. Li?"

Li Zhongren took the heavy document and felt the special spiritual energy imprint contained within it, knowing that it was both an identity and a contract.

"can."

Li Zhongren calmly agreed and put the documents away.

The special envoy's expression shifted from applause to seriousness. His gaze swept over the mess at the scene before finally settling on the unconscious Qin Keqing.

"The Northern Underworld Devouring Heaven Sect..."

The special envoy slowly uttered the name, his tone clearly showing disgust.

"Using others as scapegoats to steal the fruits of their labor, they violate the benevolence of heaven and earth and go against human ethics. They are one of the cults that the empire is cracking down on. I never expected that their tentacles have penetrated into the Youzhou Law Enforcement Bureau. They are truly ubiquitous."

He looked at Li Zhongren and Liu Ruyan and said in a deep voice.

"Judging from Qin Keqing's curses and the sacrificial ritual performed by the cult leader just now, the evidence is conclusive. If this cult is not eradicated, Youzhou will never have peace, and it may even spread to other regions."

"Li Gongfeng".

The special envoy officially addressed Li Zhongren by his new title.

"Your first commission is to work closely with Director Liu, using Qin Keqing as a starting point, to thoroughly investigate the Northern Darkness Devouring Heaven Sect's strongholds, personnel lists, and the source of its core cultivation techniques in Youzhou and even the surrounding areas. We must eradicate this malignant tumor completely! The Special Operations Bureau will provide full support with the necessary resources."

Li Zhongren and Liu Ruyan exchanged a glance and both nodded in acceptance.

"Yes, Special Envoy!"

The Extraordinary Detention Center in Youzhou City, the Deepest Interrogation Room.

This place is isolated from all internal and external spiritual energy. The walls are made of special materials that absorb sound and suppress energy, and only a single cold light provides dim illumination.

Qin Keqing was secured to the interrogation chair with specially made shackles. Her teeth had been shattered by Liu Ruyan's kicks, and her cheeks were swollen. Her once charming face now looked ferocious and terrifying.

Her eyes were unfocused, yet held a kind of obsessive madness.

Liu Ruyan stood before her, her posture still upright, her eyes sharp as knives.

"Qin Keqing, where is the stronghold of the Northern Underworld Devouring Heaven Sect? Who is the sect leader? What is your ultimate goal?"

Liu Ruyan's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.

Qin Keqing spat out a mouthful of blood and spit out a shrill laugh that was indistinct and sounded like a night owl.

"Heh...heh...Liu Ruyan...you...want to know? Beg me...kneel down and beg me! Why...why does all the good stuff go to you...why does all the credit go to you...why do men revolve around you...even the special envoy favors you...where am I inferior to you?!"

Her testimony was completely off track, filled with personal resentment and jealousy.

The interrogation lasted for several hours. No matter how Liu Ruyan used torture or psychological manipulation, Qin Keqing refused to reveal any core information about the cult. Instead, she kept expressing her jealousy and hatred towards Liu Ruyan.

"Before you appeared... I was the pride of Youzhou Bureau... Everyone should be looking up to me! It's all your fault! You stole everything from me! I joined the Beiming Sect... just to gain power... to trample you under my feet! To make you suffer eternal damnation! Hahaha!"

Qin Keqing appeared to be insane.

Liu Ruyan frowned and stopped the interrogation.

She wouldn't get angry at such words, but she would feel somewhat sad.

Qin Keqing's behavior was somewhat awkward, or even speechless, even to ordinary people.

However, this is normal for someone who cultivates the Tao.

Those who cultivate the Tao find it difficult to eliminate inner demons. If they cling to certain beliefs throughout their lives, they are prone to falling into the wrong path. Once this happens, even a person's logical thinking ability can be distorted, and this distortion can occur silently.
Her excellence became a catalyst for her colleagues to fall into evil ways, which made Liu Ruyan feel somewhat complicated, but she did not sympathize with her.

However, this stubbornness stemming from personal grudges led to a stalemate in the interrogation. She didn't care about her own safety or the survival of the cult; she only wanted to see Liu Ruyan unhappy, which made her extremely difficult to overcome.

"Her defenses have been distorted and corrupted by jealousy; she's no longer a normal person. We can't get anything out of her using conventional methods."

Liu Ruyan spoke to Li Zhongren, who was standing quietly to the side.

Li Zhongren nodded slightly and stepped forward slowly.

A faint wisp of starlight, yet imbued with an indescribable ancient, chaotic, and soul-chilling aura, swirled around his fingertips. It was not pure stellar power, but rather an experimental product condensed from his recent research into the realm of the soul, combined with a fragment of the laws concerning "karma" and "whispers" captured from the universe.

He called it a "miniature karma bomb".

Without any unnecessary movements, Li Zhongren gently touched Qin Keqing's brow with his fingertip.

That faint light instantly disappeared into the depths of his consciousness!
Qin Keqing's body suddenly stiffened, her eyes rolled back instantly, and a shrill scream that no human could utter escaped her throat. Her soul seemed to have been thrown into a purgatory filled with countless mad ramblings, endless resentment, and all her sins being magnified and scrutinized infinitely!
This kind of pain far exceeds the limits of physical torture.

Her psychological defenses crumbled instantly under this bombardment originating from the very source of her soul and targeting karma, leaving her in a state of dementia.
In this state, Li Zhongren asked a question, and Qin Keqing answered.

She rattled off a few names of outlying outposts she knew, a few long-abandoned contact methods, and some code names of low-ranking members of the cult. This information was fragmented and clearly lacked core details.

The interrogation has been suspended.

Qin Keqing slumped in the chair like a rag doll, her spirit completely broken and her soul severely damaged. Even if she could recover, she would essentially be a cripple.

Liu Ruyan frowned as she looked at the intelligence she had received.

"They're all scraps, we can't follow the trail to find the main hideout."

"I do have a solution."

After a moment's hesitation, Li Zhongren spoke.

(End of this chapter)